20:02, 15 June 2019

Police report 28 detained opponents of LGBT week in Tbilisi

Screenshot of the video of the detention of a gay parade opponent in Tbilisi. June 14, 2019. Screenshot of the video by Rustavi 2 http://www.rustavi2.ge/en/news/135982

Seven persons, who tried to prevent the LGBT action in front of the Georgian government building, were arrested; 21 more detainees were released under the recognizance not to leave the place.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, LGBT activists gathered at the government building in protest against the Patriarchate's statement about the inadmissibility of the gay parade. Eight of the participants of a counteraction held in the same place were detained for disobeying police. Clergymen were among the participants of the counteraction.

The "Tbilisi Pride" organization announced the "March of Dignity" and other events for LGBT people to be held on June 18-23 in Tbilisi. The Georgian Patriarchate treated the holding of an LGBT march in the country as "absolutely unacceptable."

In total, they detained 28 people, who "tried to break through the police cordon, threw eggs and showed aggression against the LGBT action and journalists," the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has stated.

The police have informed that they will suppress violence and citizens' discrimination, regardless of people's political views and sexual orientation.

LGBT activists have declared that on June 17 they intend to start talks with country's authorities and international organizations on the safe holding of the LGBT Week.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 15, 2019 at 10:43 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Inna Kukudjanova

Source: CK correspondent