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Suliko Arjevanidze,
IRD 100 Introduction to Political Science
Event Report
December 7, 2021

Tbilisi Pride 2021

Georgia holds 32nd place among 49 European countries when it comes to respect of

LGBTI human rights and equality ("Country Ranking | Rainbow Europe", 2021). The 2019

Caucasus Barometer survey suggests that 87% of Tbilisi’s population is against establishing any

kind of relationship with a homosexual. Despite Georgia being a secular country by law,

Orthodox Church, the Patriarchate of Georgia, has significant power among the believer majority

all around the state. It often publishes anti-LGBT statements and notices on its official web-page,

while its representatives even call for violence against LGBT activists. Different discriminatory

and dogmatic movements, political interest groups and parties, presumably funded by Russia,

also enjoy popularity in certain social groups.

By means of utilizing the constitutional right of gathering and expression, Tbilisi Pride

organization challenges homo/transphobia and promotes safe, free and equal environment for

LGBT people in Georgia. Besides a long list of missions, it as well aims at organizing annual

pride events. Within Tbilisi Pride week 2021, starting from July 1st, the organizers had planned

pride march as the last element of the five-day celebration.

The Pride Week consisted of various cultural, social and political events, including Queer

Fest and March for Dignity.

What is also worth an emphasis is the announcements (“„Tbilisi Pride“ announcement -

1TV”, 2021) of Tbilisi Pride representatives, where they express solidarity with on-going social

and political protests against the construction of the Namakhvan hydroelectric station, and

Ninotsminda boarding school. Up to 70 NGOs, political movements, start-ups and businesses

were co-organizing the events, including “Shame movement” formed by current opposition.

As for the people and institutions involved in the event, Giorgi Tabagari, a head of Tbilisi

Pride, and his team of organizers from Tbilisi Pride tried to collaborate with the Ministry of

Internal Affairs and the police in Georgia in order to ensure safety of pride activists. On the other

hand, Georgian church and its representatives; Irakli Garibashvili, a prime minister of Georgia;

Levan Vasadze and quite a few of other famous anti-LGBT activists were actively engaged in

forming and/or provoking hate groups against peaceful manifestations. The mass media’s role

has been of critical importance, as always. It was thanks to their work of broadcasting that most

of the aggressors from hate groups were identified and put on trial after the protests. Many

journalists, like Lekso Lashkarava, had been physically harassed by anti-LGBT protesters driven

by not only ordinary people, but pastors.

The issue of organizing the Pride Week, especially the “March for Dignity” was, indeed,

controversial. Government officials, like Kakhi Kaladze, being under pressure of the patriarchy,

made discriminative statements, such as “I do not consider it appropriate to hold it.” The prime

minister Garibashvili addressed LGBT activists, stating that “when 95% of our population are

against holding propagandistic parade in a demonstrative manner, we shall all obey that, [my]

friends.” To which he added “this is the opinion of our population, and we, the government

elected by the people, shall obey that. The only parade I know, that will be held in our country, is

that of our army” ("Garibashvili on LGBT Pride", 2021). Despite the conservative position of the

government officials, conditioned by the fear of loosing the majority’s support in society, as well

as the religious leaders using coercion to hinder basic human rights of expression, Tbilisi Pride

Week had a great support from different artists and political groups, along with the EU and other

states’ representatives in Georgia. Karl Hartzel, the EU ambassador in Georgia, believes that the

event was exercising one’s freedom of speech and assembly. “I don’t see it being directed against

anyone.” To that, he has also added that LGBT rights were still a hot issue in Georgia, like any

other country, therefore, they should be discussed and Tbilisi Pride Week should be held

(“Prejudice and pride", 2021).

Especially intense was the situation on July 5th. The march for dignity was cancelled

because the hate groups had attacked Tbilisi pride office. They climbed up to the office’s balcony

from the outside, destroyed LGBT flag, invaded and damaged private property and items inside

the building. Instead of the pride flag, they raised the flag of Georgia, as if those two were

opposing symbolics. These hate groups, that not only damaged various properties, but

mercilessly abused peaceful demonstrators and journalists, were co-directed by close friends of

government leaders, as well as priests. Up to 53 journalists were attacked by aggressors that had

come from all around Georgia. Lekso Lashkarava, the cameraman mentioned above, had

received serious injuries causing his death soon after the events.

By the parliament building, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, where the march was intended to

take place, conservative groups held counter demonstration. They set a big cross and started to

perform Georgian national dances to celebrate the cancelation of the pride march.

This events have exemplified what political interest groups look like and what

significance they have. Tbilisi Pride is a nice representation of a community united by the same

idea and purpose. The documentary on the Pride Week, by RadioLiberty, also shares details

discussed within the meetings between Tbilisi Pride members and the representatives of the

police, which contains elements of lobbying. The ministry of internal affairs was inclined to keep

peaceful demonstrations small, bringing safety as an argument. However, pride organizers

influenced them to provide larger amount of police force, which turned out to be still less than

necessary. The media played a notable part in keeping jurisdiction and court accountable, when it

came to penalizing aggressors, which emphasizes its power as the “fourth branch of

government.” And, of course, political participation by means of peaceful demonstrations and

protests.

The main concern that is of pivotal importance, is why have priests and other Georgian

Church representatives not been put on trial, as some other lawbreakers. Despite the fact that it

was an extremely tragic event in Georgia’s history, at the same time, it was a big step forward in

terms of westernization and development.



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References

Analysis | How widespread is homophobia in Georgia?. OC Media. (2021). Retrieved 6

December 2021, from https://oc-media.org/features/analysis-how-widespread-is-

homophobia-in-georgia/

Garibashvili on LGBT Pride. (2021). Retrieved 7 December 2021, from https://civil.ge/

archives/431658

Kakha Kaladze, says he "does not consider it appropriate to hold Pride Week.". (2021).

Retrieved 7 December 2021, from https://mtavari.tv/en/news/48797-kakha-kaladze-

says-he-does-not-consider-it

Prejudice and pride. (2021). Retrieved 7 December 2021, from https://youtu.be/HqEZtYljE1A

Rainbow Europe. Rainbow-europe.org. (2021). Retrieved 6 December 2021, from https://

www.rainbow-europe.org/#8634/0/0

„Tbilisi Pride“ announcement - 1TV. 1TV. (2021). Retrieved 6 December 2021, from https://

1tv.ge/video/tbilisi-praidis-ganckhadeba-5/

Tbilisi Pride. Tbilisipride.ge. (2021). Retrieved 6 December 2021, from https://tbilisipride.ge/en-

US/Pride

5 ივლისს "თბილისი პრაიდი" "ღირსების მარშს" გამართავს. რადიო

თავისუფლება. (2021). Retrieved 6 December 2021, from https://

www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/31290279.html