The Georgian Ministry of the Interior has opened an investigation into the Conservative Movement party leaders' statements threatening to disrupt the next LGBT+ Pride Week. The Conservative Movement is a Russian-affiliated organisation founded by the renowned alt-right “Alt-Info group.”
The Ministry stated that the investigation was launched in accordance with Articles 2391 and 151 of the Georgian Criminal Code, the first of which deals with the public incitement of violent acts and the latter with the threat of death, bodily harm, or property destruction. Article 151 may result in 120–180 hours of community service, corrective work, or up to a year in jail, while Article 2391 may result in a fine or 200–400 hours of community service.
Moreover, according to a statement from the Georgian Interior Ministry, the country will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of closed-format events planned by the LGBT+ rights organisation Tbilisi Pride as well as the protection of the right to free speech and assembly during pride week. In a statement issued on June 27, the Ministry stated that its officials are in close contact with the organisers of Pride Week in order to ensure the safety of the events. According to the report, a number of meetings were held for this purpose, with representatives from the United Nations, local and international organisations, the Office of the Public Defender, the diplomatic corps, ministry personnel, and Tbilisi Pride members in attendance.
After being questioned by police on June 27, party founder Konstantine Morgoshia said: "We respect the law, but we have a bigger aim than any legislation." When another party leader, Zurab Makharadze, was asked if their actions would escalate into violence similar to the homophobic attack on journalists on July 5, 2021, he stated that there is no absolute assurance that nothing will occur.
Tbilisi Pride was worried about the safety of upcoming events and said that high-ranking officials have been making damaging, discrediting, and violence-inciting comments about Tbilisi Pride and the LGBTQ community in recent days.
Read also:
PACE Resolution: LGBT rights in the South Caucasus
The aftermath of Tbilisi Pride
Turmoil in Georgia in face of the first ever LGBT Pride Week
