Anti-LGBT bill should align with rights guaranteed by law – Georgian Ombudsman

The Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, on Wednesday responded to the forthcoming bill by the ruling Georgian Dream party targeting alleged LGBT propaganda in the country, saying any such legislation should align with the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.

“While it’s challenging to pre-judge the specifics of the proposed bill, one principle remains clear – it must uphold the basic rights enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia. It should safeguard the principle of equality and refrain from restricting freedom of speech and expression. I eagerly anticipate reviewing the draft law; only then can I offer a thorough assessment of its provisions,” he said. 

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the parliamentary majority, last week announced plans to develop legislation aimed at shielding society from what they perceive as the adverse effects of “pseudo-liberal ideology”.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized on March 1 that ensuring the proposed legislation align with the Constitution was paramount.In Russia, as of December 2022, disseminating positive information about homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism is prohibited, carrying penalties of up to 400,000 rubles for individuals and up to five million rubles for organizations. On November 30, 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court, following a request from the Ministry of Justice, deemed the nonexistent international LGBT movement extremist and outlawed its activities.