Far-Right Mob Disrupts Tbilisi Pride, Resulting in Event Cancellation
A far-right group, consisting of hundreds of individuals, forcefully entered a Pride festival in Tbilisi, leading to clashes with law enforcement and the subsequent cancellation of the event. This incident occurred two years after a previous Pride march in the city was also called off due to an attack on the organizers' headquarters. According to the Associated Press, around 5,000 opponents of the LGBTQ community protested the event, with many displaying Georgian flags.
Mariam Kvaratskhelia, an LGBTQ activist involved in organizing the festival, described how the mob entered the festival grounds, causing damage, burning flags and placards, and disrupting the atmosphere. Equipment was broken, and belongings were taken from the venue, including spilled champagne.
As a safety precaution, police evacuated several dozen attendees, with no reported injuries. Although approximately 3,000 people had registered to participate in the Pride event, the mob arrived before its scheduled start. Organizers expressed dissatisfaction with law enforcement's handling of the situation, criticizing the lack of proportional force against the attackers. Instead, attendees were directed to leave the area on prearranged buses, while the mob remained dispersed.
President Salome Zourabichvili, an independent figure critical of the governing Georgian Dream party, voiced concerns about the potential emboldening of radical groups if the police response remains insufficient.
The European Union's delegation in Tbilisi expressed disappointment over the inability to ensure security and freedom of assembly, emphasizing the importance of holding the lawbreakers accountable. The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi and other Western diplomatic missions also condemned the violent attack.
Despite Georgia's application to join the European Union, Tbilisi was not granted official candidate status last year. The decision was based on the EU's desire to witness further reforms being implemented. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Moldova received candidate status during the same period.