Yesterday, July 5, the Interior Ministry canceled a gay pride parade due to security concerns. It was reported that more than 50 representatives of the media were injured during the attempt to hold the so-called March of Dignity
Commenting on the situation in an exclusive comment for News Front yesterday the Georgian political analyst and director of the Centre for Islamic Research of the Caucasus (Georgia) Shota Apkhaidze said that holding such event could lead not only to clashes but also to victims, as the Georgian people will never accept the imposition of such disgrace from the outside.
And in fact he was right, given the reaction of people who came out in the streets of Tbilisi to defend their values.
“As the Georgian people reclaimed their sovereign right to exist, to worship and to enjoy their traditional culture from American colonialists, several thousand people gathered around the Kashveti church, where a service was held. A sermon was preached by Patriarch of All Georgia Shio, who said that Georgian church and believers would not tolerate “attempts to alienate people from their faith”- a political analyst told his Telegram channel about the developments.
He expressed regret that “excessive force has been used” and people have suffered, explaining that “people were provoked to such actions by pressure on morality.
“Tbilisi Pride is opposed by almost all conservative organizations and groups, 90 percent of the entire population of Georgia demanding the prohibition of the March of Dignity. This is the position of the majority of the people; the Georgian government should listen to the will of their voters.”
The office of the NGO Tbilisi Pride, organiser of Tbilisi LGBT Rights Week, was also vandalised. Police officers were mobilized outside the building in the evening and prevented the aggressive citizens from entering the office – but they broke in through the balcony, tore and burned LGBT flags and hung out the Georgian flag.
“This is a clear example that one should not impose American values on Georgians, otherwise there will be consequences”, – stressed the Georgian expert.