Brussels, 21/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 20 May, the EU delegation in Georgia highlighted its dismay at the “scenes of brutal intolerance and violence committed by some demonstrators (…) with a declared desire to prevent other demonstrators from expressing themselves peacefully”, at Gay Pride in Tbilisi on 17 May - during which around 20 people were reportedly injured. “The EU calls on the government of Georgia to uphold the international and European standards of freedom and equality in dignity and rights to which it has committed itself. The EU urges Georgia to defend the human rights of all its citizens using all the means at its disposal”, the delegation added in its press release. It reiterated the need to fight against any form of discrimination (see EUROPE 10848).
“Acts of violence and discrimination, and restricting the rights of others, will not be tolerated and the authors of such acts will be dealt with in accordance with the law”, said Georgia's Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. He stated that all Georgian citizens must be able to benefit “fully and fairly” from the right of gathering peacefully and expressing their opinion freely (our translation). (CG/transl.fl)