Freedom House condemns Georgian Parliament’s adoption of anti-LGBT legislative package

Freedom House has strongly condemned the Georgian Parliament’s recent adoption of legislative package titled Family Values and Protection of Minors, describing the move as an “assault on the fundamental freedoms of all Georgians.” The organization called for an immediate reversal of the decision, which has sparked widespread criticism both domestically and internationally.

“This step, like the passage of the country’s “foreign agents” law last May, is pulled directly from the Kremlin’s authoritarian playbook and again calls into question Georgia’s democratic trajectory,” Freedom House said in a statement.

The legislative package, initiated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, was adopted by the Georgian parliamentary majority on Tuesday, seeks to restrict what it refers to as “LGBT propaganda.” Passed with 84 votes in favor and none against, the law introduces significant changes to 18 existing pieces of legislation, including the “Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression.”