The events that took place today at the “Tbilisi Pride” festival demonstrated that the Georgian authorities are not willing to contain and cope with the aggression of a small number of violent groups. Disruption of a peaceful assembly planned a few months earlier, agreed with the state institutions, is one more failure of the government.
For months, the Ministry of Internal Affairs promised Tbilisi Pride, various organizations, the Public Defender, and foreign partners that they would protect the safety of the people who gathered peacefully. The events that took place today have shown that the government is planning to establish a Russian-style society in Georgia. Putin’s authoritarian undertaking in Russia started with an attack on one community that ended with the restriction of the freedom of expression of all citizens.
Acting in this manner today, the government took one more step toward Russia and separated us from the European Union. It is regrettable that the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not keep its promise. Nevertheless, we will continue fighting to protect the freedom of expression of all people in the country.