Public Defender calls for respect to female MPs following insults by ruling party lawmaker

Public Defender Levan Ioseliani issued a statement on Wednesday denouncing the behavior of a Georgian Dream party lawmaker who insulted female MPs during a parliamentary session. 

The Public Defender condemned the derogatory language used by Beka Odisharia, the chairperson of the Diaspora and Caucasus Affairs Committee of the Parliament.

In a Facebook post, the ombudsman urged all MPs to refrain from using such language and insults directed at women. He further stressed , “I find the behavior witnessed in the parliament today utterly unacceptable. It is impermissible to employ obscene and demeaning language towards female MPs. I implore all MPs to desist from demeaning and insulting women, and to uphold the minimum standards of ethical conduct. Such behavior does not enhance the dignity of anyone.”

The incident occurred earlier on Wednesday during a parliamentary session marked by tensions over the Georgian Dream party’s decision to reintroduce a controversial foreign agents bill. Odisharia’s disparaging remarks about female opposition MPs, referring to them as having “the lack of sex,” sparked outrage and prompted the Public Defender to respond.