LGBT activists confirm their plan to hold gay parade in central Tbilisi

The "March of Dignity" will take place in the capital of Georgia, despite the law enforcers' statement about their inability to ensure safety of participants thereof, the organization named "Tbilisi Pride" has announced.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the "Tbilisi Pride" had scheduled the "March of Dignity" and a series of events for LGBT people for June 18-23, 2019, in Tbilisi. Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) have stated that they would not be able to protect the marchers from possible provocations and attacks, if the march was held in central Tbilisi.

The final decision to hold a gay parade in Tbilisi was announced by LGBT activists on June 18.

"Despite the existing risks, for the first time in the history of Georgia, the "March of Dignity" remains in force; we're not going to give it up. Our support groups, family members, friends, representatives of international organizations, the diplomatic corps, citizens of the European Union (EU) and our neighbouring countries will take part in the public march," the organizers of the LGBT march announce in their statement.

Fourteen Georgian NGOs, including the International Transparency-Georgia, the UN Association of Georgia, the Georgian Democratic Initiative and the Georgian Reform Association, have expressed their solidarity with LGBT activists and called on the authorities to ensure that the LGBT Week was held in a peaceful atmosphere.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 18, 2019 at 07:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.