2021-07-05
Order and the rule of law must be ensured in the country; as Prime Minister and Head of Government, I will ensure against chaos and public confrontation, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated during today's Cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the state protects the rights of all citizens.
"We do not discriminate among our citizens on any basis whatsoever. We have done everything to that end, adopting the Anti-Discrimination Law a few years ago, among others. As you may remember, we, on my initiative, said six years ago that it was necessary for the Constitution to define marriage clearly, a task accomplished by our team, Georgian Dream, a little later, consequently settling this issue. We have a centuries-old history, and we are one of the most ancient nations, with numerous examples of coexistence-of people of different creeds, or different in many other ways, never encountering any problems. Accordingly, those who wish to protest today and voice their opinions, and to hold a parade, do have the right to do so, of course. We accept it as a given, and we understand their wishes-it is their constitutional right. And the state has done everything to ensure that. A few days ago, they held an event, absolutely safely, and there were gatherings on Lisi Lake yesterday and the day before that. But I believe it inappropriate to hold the parade scheduled for today. And here is why. Firstly, today's parade poses a threat of confrontation. As you know, the majority of our population considers today's rally unacceptable, the reason why I do not think that it must be held on Rustaveli Avenue. Secondly, the Interior Ministry maintains constant communication with the organizers of the pride event who have been informed that the rally announced by them poses a certain degree of threat, explaining why they have been offered a choice to select an alternative venue. I would like to urge them to consider our call, namely the risk assessment conducted by the police-risk assessment must be taken into consideration-and to choose a different location," Irakli Garibashvili said.
The Prime Minister believes that rallies and events of this kind do the opposite, that is, contribute to discrimination against minorities.
"In my speech in Parliament, I explained this issue. Overly appealing to and overemphasizing their being different results in discrimination against them. Our population, of course, does not have any problem with them. Representatives of minorities work and live in an absolutely normal everyday environment. Nothing threatens them in our country. There is not a single fact of discrimination and, generally, even if there have been individual cases, they cannot be generalized," the Prime Minister underlined.
The Head of Government also addressed the participants of the counterdemonstration, underlining that protest must be peaceful, absolutely non-violent, and within legal bounds.
"There is also a large counterdemonstration planned today. And that, too, is their constitutional right. But everything must be done within constitutional and legal bounds. In the same vein, this form of expression and protest must be peaceful, without even the slightest perception of violence. Order and the rule of law must be ensured in the country. As Prime Minister and Head of Government, I will ensure against chaos and public confrontation. Therefore, we will do everything to mitigate risks as much as possible, and to manage this day very peacefully. We all must understand that this is Georgia, and that we have our traditions and customs that must be respected by all, within constitutional and legal bounds, of course. I also want to point out that, unfortunately, behind the organizers of today's event there are revanchist, radical groups, namely the radical opposition led by Saakashvili. They are involved-and I say it with full responsibility-they are organizing this parade and these rallies, and it is their goal to instigate public disorder and chaos in the country. But that will not happen, of course, we will not let that happen. This is what I wanted to tell and explain to our population. Everything in our country will be as our people, our population, want it," Irakli Garibashvili added.
Press Service of the Government Administration