"Tbilisi Pride" releases a statement:
"A war has been declared against civil society, democratic values, and the European course of the country."
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili's shameful, violent, anti-state, and anti-Western statement in which he shifted responsibility and vectors of aggression to activists is a continuation of the coordinated violent policy of our political authorities, the Georgian Patriarchate, and pro-Russian groups.
Despite opportunities to ensure the safety of Pride Week participants, the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not take any effective measures. Members of the Tbilisi Pride, representatives of international organizations, and the diplomatic corps had several meetings with the representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they were offered specific plans to ensure the safety of the march, but we have been watching the encouragement of violent groups by government officials since morning.
It is why the offices of "Tbilisi Pride" and the "Shame" movement have been raided, journalists are being beaten in front of the police; this is a declared hunt for the media, activists, all those who believe in the idea of equality. Given the current events, we do not expect that the Ministry of Internal Affairs will adequately fulfill its duties.
We call on the international community, opposition parties, non-governmental organizations, supporters, and citizens of Georgia to clearly distance themselves from radical hate groups and the state's policy of complete non-state inaction. On behalf of "Tbilisi Pride," we would like to state that the March of Honor for #Solidarity will not take place today,- mentions the statement.
