Ruling party official on bill against “pseudo-liberal propaganda”: Georgia upholds high standards of human rights protection

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday highlighted the government’s commitment to safeguarding human rights, irrespective of lifestyle choices, and stressed the need to counter what they perceive as a growing threat to Georgian society through proposing a new bill targeting a “pseudo-liberal propaganda”. 

In his comments, the MP underscored Georgia’s strides in protecting human rights, including those of individuals with non-traditional sexual orientations. The government’s stance against discrimination was also emphasized, with Mdinaradze asserting that “no one, especially the government, should pass judgment on others”. He also highlighted the government’s role in eliminating coercive practices against individuals with non-traditional orientations, which, as he claimed, were prevalent during previous administrations.

However, Mdinaradze expressed concern over what he termed as the “global proliferation of pseudo-liberal ideology,” citing trends indicating a “significant rise” in the percentage of young adults identifying with non-traditional sexual orientations in countries where such ideology was actively spreading.

One action by the Georgian government mentioned in his claims was the 2017 constitutional amendment restricting the legalization of same-sex marriage and defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Despite this, Mdinaradze hinted at potential pressure to legalize “civil partnerships” and highlighted past struggles against attempts to introduce gender-neutral terminology.

The statement also condemned what it described as the “aggressive promotion” of non-traditional lifestyles, particularly targeting children through propaganda advocating for gender reassignment surgeries and related medical interventions. Mdinaradze asserted that such propaganda aimed not at protecting human rights but at popularizing a non-traditional lifestyle.

In response to these concerns, the lawmaker said the GD had announced plans to introduce legislative measures aimed at countering pseudo-liberal ideology within the next two weeks. While reaffirming the protection of every citizen’s rights, regardless of lifestyle, Mdinaradze emphasized the responsibility to counter what they perceive as “harmful propaganda”.

The proposed legislation aims to uphold the principles and norms outlined in the Constitution of Georgia while actively combating what the government views as the detrimental effects of pseudo-liberal ideology on society, he said and called on citizens who share the government’s values to support this initiative, portraying it as a “crucial step” in “safeguarding Georgia’s future”.