Civil society organizations respond to the events that took place on July 8, 2023.

It is alarming that the Ministry of Internal Affairs continues its tolerant policy towards hate groups. Instead of fulfilling its constitutional obligations to provide preventive and responsive measures to crimes for protecting public safety, state allowed the hate groups to interfere with the freedom of assembly and expression to spread unhindered calls for violence and to carry out such actions.

On June 2, Tbilisi Pride, a non-governmental organization supporting the LGBT+ community, announced that they would join the "Month of Dignity and Pride" and on July 1-8, Pride Week in Tbilisi, consisting of closed events. On July 8, the Tbilisi Pride Fest 2023 was to be held in Lisi Wonderland.

In the days leading up to July 8, hate groups publicly issued various statements, which, by their content, made the Ministry of Internal Affairs aware of the proceeding risk of violence. In addition, on July 8, numerous homogenous videos were circulated online, calling on citizens to demonstrate against Tbilisi Pride Fest 2023. Among them, organizers of the campaign were the people leading the mass violence of July 5, 2021, and neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has taken any practical step despite the evidence.

On July 7, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the event announced for July 8 as part of "Tbilisi Pride" week would be conducted peacefully. The statement mentioned that police units would be mobilized at all necessary locations to protect law, order and security within the scope of their competence.

Contrary to the above, even though the Ministry of Internal Affairs was well-informed and knew the intent of the hate groups to attack the "Tbilisi Pride" event using violent methods (see, for instance, Zurab Makharadze's speech), the members of these hate groups gathered at the Vazha-Pshavela monument and moved freely to Lisi. In the area around the lake, they didn’t encounter any significant obstacles from law enforcement officers. In addition, near Lisi Lake, hate groups were able to easily breach the police cordon and advance toward the main entrance of Lisi. Video analysis indicates that the Ministry of Internal Affairs strategy could not effectively counter the risks posed by violent groups. Around 14:55, the police cordon was completely breached. Video footage also reveals instances of interference with journalistic activities. By around 15:10., rally participants had completely taken over the festival location. Members of hate groups trespassed onto private property, vandalized the festival area, damaged the stage and stage equipment prepared for the "Pride Festival," and set some of the equipment on fire.

Rather than law enforcement personnel demonstrating solidarity with marginalized groups and ensuring their protection, they escorted hate groups into the festival territory. The footage shows how Zura Makharadze, one of the leaders of Alt-Info Media, and Vato Shakarishvili, the leader of the Anti-Western movement, are guided at the area to show that the festival organizers had indeed left the place by 15:17.

We believe that the events unfolding today are a continuation of July 5, 2021; the investigation has remained entirely unaddressed on the responsibility of the organizers of violence and the state tasked with ensuring the protection from hate groups on July 5, 2021. Also, it is not yet known whether the investigation has been started due to the possible criminal actions of state security employees based on the news aired on TV Pirveli on June 12, 2022. Instead of creating guarantees for the unhindered exercise of freedom of assembly and expression, the state persists in promoting the influence of violent groups.

Civil society organizations express solidarity with members of the LGBTQ+ community and call on the state to act under the Constitution of Georgia and International Agreements:

• Implement a prompt and suitable legal response to violent calls and actions, including identifying the accountability of those orchestrating violence, to effectively address and prevent further incidents.
• Protect the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community, including their right to host events at their chosen locations without disruptions.
• Ensure the protection of media professionals from unlawful interference in their journalistic activities, guarantee their safety, and facilitate the entire exercise of freedom of expression. Additionally, ensure the timely and efficient investigation of crimes against media representatives and the prosecution of those responsible.

Signatory organizations:

• Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
• Green alternative
• International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
• Transparency International Georgia
• Rights Georgia
• Platform “Salami”
• Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)
• The Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT)
• Social Justice Center
• Human Rights Center
• Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) - Georgia

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