Political analysts dispute about changed attitude towards LGBT people in Georgian society

In Georgia, the public opinion about the LGBT community has changed; and politicians are no longer afraid to drop their rating by speaking in support of this community, Kakha Gogolashvili has noted. The LGBT topic no longer causes such a violent reaction as before, Gela Vasadze believes. In his turn, Ucha Nanuashvili asserts that there is no improvement with the observance of the LGBT people's rights in Georgia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that LGBT activists announced July 1-5 to be in Tbilisi the "LGBT Week" to end with the "March of Dignity". The "Eri" Georgian political party has called on the authorities to ban the march.

Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, a member of the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party, also spoke out against the march, the "Sputnik-Georgia" reports.

Roman Gotsiridze, Chairman of the "United National Movement" (UNM), has invited the Georgian President to attend the march, the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV Channel has reported.

The LGBT issue was raised by the NGO "Congress of Georgian Scientists". Its member, Tsiuri Garuchava, said that the Congress demands from the authorities to ban the march in Tbilisi, since such an event is inadmissible for the country's Orthodox population.

However, Tornike Sharashenidze, a political analyst, believes that the main purpose of Gotsiridze's statement was to inflict political damage to the ruling party.

"In this situation, if the president fails to react to the invitation, she will be reproached for being politically incorrect and not protecting a part of her population. If she agrees (to attend the march), criticism will come from conservative voters," Mr Sharashenidze has explained.