Govt’s refusal to protect sexual minorities “most damaging” for Georgia’s EU integration – former US ambassador

The Georgian government’s refusal to protect sexual minorities that allowed “pro-Russian” groups to disrupt Tbilisi Pride festival on Saturday is the “most damaging” thing it could do in the context of Georgia’s joining the European Union, Ian Kelly, the former ambassador of the United States to Georgia, told the domestic channel earlier this week. 

 

A Conservative Movement, a far-right group with a pro-Russian stance, on Saturday did not allow Tbilisi Pride, a domestic NGO, to hold a festival in the outskirts of Tbilisi as part of a week-long pride week to promote the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, with the law enforcement evacuating the festival participants from the site.  

 

Tbilisi Pride on Monday announced a legal fight against the Georgian interior ministry, accusing the body of cooperation with the violent group.