Statements
Special Statement by Human Rights Center and Media Institute on Violence Against the Dignity March
05.07.2021
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HRC and the Media Institute are responding to alarming threats towards the LGBTQ + community, their supporters, human rights activists, and journalists from the violent groups gathered in and around Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
As seen from the footage disseminated by the media, there are various types of violent acts exerted by violent groups on the journalists expressed in both verbal abuse and physical violence. According to the spread information, cameramen of Mtavari Arkhi, Palitra News and TV Pirveli have been beaten, the equipment has been broken. Moreover, according to media reports, one of the protesters clashed his motorcycle at a journalist and a cameraman of Rustavi 2 on purpose. Of particular concern is the footage showing the facts of violence against journalists committed by clerics. There is an organized attack on the offices of various organizations. According to the last information, due to the attacks on 6 journalists working on the spot they had to be removed by ambulance vehicles.
Moreover, people on Rustaveli Avenue are physically threatening the participants of the Dignity March planned for today. Georgian authorities should take these threats seriously and take appropriate measures immediately. Numerous cases of physical violence against journalists are particularly alarming.
Also alarming is the fact that the amount of the police forces deployed on Rustaveli Avenue are not sufficient to protect journalists and other individuals from violence by violent groups. Accordingly, the authorities must adequately assess the severity of the current events and in order to prevent and eliminate violent incidents must deploy additional police forces.
The signatory organizations are concerned about the statement made by the Prime Minister of Georgia, the content of which incites the violence and contradicts both the Constitution of Georgia and international human rights standards. The statement by the Prime Minister is based on bringing untrue facts about LGBTQ + people in the country contributing to strengthening false stereotypes about the discrimination against the majority, and is unequivocally contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of the country.
Ensuring freedom of assembly and expression cannot be reduced to a negative obligation on the part of the State: to refrain from unjust interference with the exercise of the right; indeed, the State also has a positive obligation to protect people in order they could enjoy the freedom of assembly.
The State has a duty to protect the peaceful assembly from acts of violence committed by third parties. Creating appropriate conditions for exercising the right to peaceful assembly is a positive obligation of the State. Offenses committed against such marches require a quick and appropriate responses.
Based on the above, we call on:
Georgian authorities:
- Take effective and immediate measures to prevent ongoing violence on Rustaveli Avenue. Further, take effective steps to ensure the safety of the organizers, participants and journalists of the Dignity Pride, and to let them exercise their freedom of expression and assembly;
- Not to make statements that serve to discredit the organizers, activists and supporters of Tbilisi Pride Week and promote illegal restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly;
- Publicly condemn the statements of members of Georgian Parliament and leaders of the ruling party opposing the freedom of expression and assembly during the Dignity March.
- Take immediate steps to protect the physical safety of threatened defenders of human rights, journalists and participants of the Dignity March;
- Investigate objectively and effectively the attacks on journalists and supporters of the Dignity March including verbal and physical abuse, interference with of journalistic activities, alleged intentional damage to health and other unlawful acts committed by the rivals of the Dignity March;
- Immediately launch an investigation into the facts of attacking the office of “Shame” and Tbilisi Pride, and that of the illegal damage to the property of other persons;
- To mobilize an adequate number of law enforcers, which will enable the restoration of order and security and prevent the facts of offenses;
- Immediately launch an investigation into the violent appeals made by the organizers of the violent rally punishable under criminal law.
- Acknowledge the role and place of the Church in a secular state. Distance itself from any type of violence or appeals of similar meaning. Acknowledge their own role in the current processes and take steps to de-escalate the created situation.
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