28 members of the European Parliament have called on the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vakhtang Gomelauri to protect the freedom of expression and security of Tbilisi Pride.

“Pride demonstrations are peaceful tools for political advocacy and one way in which the universal right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is crystallised. They are a hallmark of the LGBTI activist movement, a pillar for social visibility and they are equally political demonstrations during which the community voices its concerns, highlights its achievements and gives the opportunity to its members to demonstrate in favour of equality. As such, the recent comments of the Chair of the Ruling Georgian Dream Party, Irakli Kobakhidze, who said that the Pride March had to be cancelled, are in contravention of these universal rights and of the established precedent in Tbilisi.

It is thus in this spirit of support that we address you, Minister, in order to ask not only that the Pride is, in line with the universal right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, effectively allowed, but also that all the preparations be taken so as to ensure the effective enjoyment of the manifestants’ right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, all the while availing themselves of authorities’ protection.

We have seen how in previous years LGBTI-phobic groups have taken advantage of these celebrations to build on their hatred and attack LGBTI peaceful protesters. It is therefore crucial that, in line with Georgia’s commitments under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia, the Georgian authorities provide sufficient and effective police protection…

In line with the EU guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by LGBTI persons, the European Union has in its external policies a duty to protect and promote LGBTI human rights, including the right to non-discrimination and to peaceful demonstration. We therefore ask the EU Delegation in Georgia, in copy, to follow up on the elements raised in this letter”, - reads the letter signed by 28 MEPs.