LGBT activists describe attack on them in Batumi

At present, Levan Berianidze and Tornike Kusiani, members of the "Equality Movement", beaten in Adjara on August 25, receive outpatient medical treatment, activists told the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 25, Levan Berianidze and Tornike Kusiani, members of the "Equality Movement", were attacked by unidentified persons. At that time, the activists were accompanied by female transgender people.

In the course of the incident, Tornike Kusiani and Levan Berianidze got a number of injuries, including in areas of their heads, bodies, and limbs. Levan Berianidze got the most serious injury in the area of his eye, and doctors recommended him to take six kinds of medicine and to stay in bed. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Tornike Kusiani on August 30.

The activist has also reported the details of the incident: "I was walking along the boulevard with friends, including female transgender people. In total, there were 5-6 of us. And one of the passers-by hit a female transgender person with a scooter because of intolerance. I intervened, and he hit me too. As a result, passers-by gathered, and more 10 people were involved in the fight."

Tornike Kusiani has explained that law enforcers watched what was happening. "Then they began to insult us, and later, they joined the fight."

Levan Berianidze has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that three or four of the attackers expressed the severest aggression. The activist has noted that he had not seen any of them earlier.

According to him, after the fight, they were placed to an IVS (a temporary detention facility), where they were subjected to insults and humiliations. The activist also noted that they were also not allowed to make calls and receive medical assistance.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.