Georgian ruling party leader defends family values law amid satirical criticism

A leading figure in Georgia’s ruling party has defended the country's legislation on family values, denouncing what he described as attempts to discredit it through satire and foreign influence.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, head of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction and the party’s executive secretary, posted a fiery message on Facebook on Tuesday, accusing opponents of mocking the bill in order to undermine it.

“Are we supposed to cancel the family values law because of jokes about married men?” Mdinaradze wrote. “How can anyone carry out such a vulgar assignment?”

He went on to claim that so-called “deep state agents” had gone “off track,” using conspiratorial language frequently employed by the government to dismiss criticism from both domestic and international actors.

The family values legislation, widely seen by critics as targeting LGBTQ+ rights under the guise of protecting traditional norms, has drawn condemnation from civil society groups and raised concern among Georgia’s Western partners. The EU has urged the GD authorities to withdraw it to retain the visa free travel. The government, however, argues that the law reflects the will of the Georgian people and preserves the country’s cultural identity.