LGBT activists in Georgia have been forced to cancel a gay rights event after their office was stormed by far-right protesters. Journalists and activists were also attacked ahead of the planned march in the capital, Tblisi, local reports say. At least 20 journalists were reportedly injured in the violence, while an LGBT rainbow flag was burned in the street.
"We cannot risk human lives and take to the streets, which are full of violent attackers," Tblisi Pride announced. The attacks have been condemned by a number of embassies, who have called for authorities to stop the violence.
Activists had organized five days of Pride events, but in a statement, Tbilisi Pride said local authorities had "not only failed to secure safety of the queer community and our supporters, but actively hampered us from exercising the right of assembly" ahead of the planned march.
In a joint statement, the US, UK, the EU and a number of other diplomatic missions called on Georgian authorities "to act swiftly to protect those exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly, to protect journalists exercising freedom of the press, and to publicly condemn violence".
Georgia's interior ministry had previously called on the organizers to cancel the Pride march due to safety concerns, while Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashviil described the event as "unacceptable for a large segment of the Georgian society".
However, another activist group said the government had failed to offer security to activists and journalists and was "responsible for today's violence".
No comments:
Post a Comment