Turkophobia

Politicians

Obieqtivi, Dgis Bolos, July 1
Irma Inashvili, Alliance of Patriots: “The central Avenue of Agmashenebeli has been occupied by businesses encouraged by the Turkish state, business systems of Arabic countries; you have occupied the entire huge artery of the capital and why do not you write on your T-shirts that it is an occupier and that the Agmashenebeli Avenue has been occupied.”

Rustavi 2, Kurieri, July 2
Sopo Kikacheishvili, Georgian Dream: “No matter whether [Russia] is an occupier, Turkey had not been lesser enemy for us, but we still have relations with it now!”

Obieqtivi, Dgis Bolos, July 3
Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, Alliance of Patriots: “It is strange when you say that “Russia is an occupier;” then you should also say that, for example, Turkey is an occupier too, as well as Iran. Why do not you say it?! Then you keep saying “we do not want Russia!” Okay, you do not want, but you should also say that you do not want Turkey either! Who imposes Russia on you? Is it Russia, insisting that “yes, you need us?” When you are running around with these sentences, what is behind these sentences? Absolutely nothing, it’s just a delirium!”

Media

Georgia and World, July 10
Davit Mkheidze, author: “If you feel troubled about temporary occupation of Georgian territories by Russia, why do you stay silent about permanent occupation of 34% of Georgia’s ancient lands by Turkey, or an attempt to grab David Gareji, why are not you running in the streets wearing T-shirts with inscriptions “Turkey is an occupier” and “Davit Gareji is Georgia?”

Asaval-Dasabali, July 29 – August 4
Giorgi Gigauri, journalist: “Turkey is busy with occupying Adjara and it annually takes thousands of children from Adjara to Turkish madrassas in order to turn them into Turks!”

Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, July 30
Nino Ratishvili, host: “When you did not dare, when you have no state pride, when you have no national, statehood … there was an initiative to declare the Day of Victory [marking the Day of Didgori Battle], and you reject it, because the Turkish Ambassador comes and wags his finger, saying that ‘your victory was my defeat,’ then you should not demand anything from him, when he takes half of Adjara away.”

Clerics

Rustavi 2, P.S., July 14
Bishop Spiridon (Abuladze) of Skhalta: “Such hysterical and bacchanalian swearing at Russia and so on, it is clearly directed towards destruction of Orthodoxy and against Orthodoxy, because if you say it because of occupation, Turkey has grabbed twice more; Azerbaijan tells you that this greatest sanctity belongs to it and others have also taken something away. Why do not you say anything about them?! . 

Society

Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, July 30 
Zurab Tsintskiladze, actor: “Let me tell you that in Turkey, children’s tongues were split just because they were speaking Georgian; it was impossible. If you wanted to speak Georgian, you had to stand with you back and mumble something. Today, they have an opportunity to have a book [Mother Language for the Georgians living in Turkey] and there are Sunday schools to teach them those languages, which they want.”

Xenophobia

Media

Civil society organizations

Alia, August 26 – September 15
Zviad Tomaradze, Georgian Demographic Society: “A favorable environment created in Georgia, mainly for Asian citizens, who want to acquire residence permits and migrate to Georgia, became the reason for writing a bill. Against the background of gravest demographic problems in the country, Georgia has become an attractive country for Asian migrants over the past years. The State has faced serious problems. Ethnic-religious balance has changed in the country to the detriment of indigenous population. So, we, the indigenous population, appeared in the minority in Georgia. And it happens against the backdrop of emigration of 1/3 of the local population and the process is still underway.” 

Society

Rustavi 2, Kurieri, August 2
Mikheil Gegeshidze, citizen: “The society and these foreign citizens should understand once and forever that when they arrive in Georgia, they are guests and they do not have the right to do everything.”

Discrimination on religious grounds

Clerics

Georgia and World, July 17
Basil Mkalavishvili, cleric: “[Giga] Bokeria was chasing us, the Orthodox, with stones, because we were fighting against that terrible sect of Jehovah’s Witnesses, enemies of humanity, who were sent to eradicate Georgian gene.”

Homophobia

Politicians

Rustavi 2, Kurieri, July 1
Sopo Kikacheishvili, Georgian Dream: “My respects to Gakharia! Yes, my respects to Gakharia! Who were there – gays, lesbians, pederasts and National Movement [during the June 20 rally]! Who is normal there, who?! Can LGBT people be compared with Bidzina Ivanishvili?! Do not frighten me, you are shameful! How can this government let them talk, these depraved people!”

Obieqtivi, Dgis Bolos, July 8
Irma Inashvili, Alliance of Patriots: “We demand holding of a special session to discuss our draft resolution; they have imposed this LGBT propaganda on Georgian people and now this [anti-occupation rallies] has been used as a provocation element in the entire process.” 

Obieqtivi, Dgis Bolos, July 3
Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, Alliance of Patriots: “I do not want this LGBT! We do not want this LGBT and this LGBT propaganda! We also have the right to freedom of expression! Let LGBT people stay where they are and let them leave us alone! “You are Russian agents!” Is not it madness? Rustavi 2 TV covers a rally in New York, showing a certain Georgian LGBT, saying that Russia obstructs LGBT people in Georgia! I am astonished! Does it mean that we, Georgians, want them in Georgia? Russia has nothing to do with it. We do not want it. I understand that it’s their decision, but do not propagandize it!”

Asaval-Dasavali, August 12-18
Soso Shatberashvili, Leftist Alliance: “Moreover, this “anti-occupation movement” is financed by the National Movement, who first tried to stage a revolution with LGBT pride, later they organized “Gavrilov night and finally came to this clownery!” 

Media

Alia, August 5-11
Levan Javakhishvili, journalist: “Just recollect an attempt of holding a pride parade. People know that they should not allow these depraved people to rampage and hold pride parades, but still they do not go out, staying at home and following the developments from there. For several consecutive years, 70-80% of the same people are participating in these rallies, protesting against gay rampage. Sometimes, these protests have even overgrown into hand-to-hand fighting. How do you think, is it only you who confronts this immorality, this ugliness? Is it only you, who are ready to do your utmost to avert this danger from the country? When you say that increased number of gays, legalization of same-sex marriage in the future, sale of lands to foreigners, increased number of aliens in the country and granting of Georgian citizenship to them poses a threat to the state security, if it continues, the country will have no future and the devil will take possession of it…”

Sakinformi, July 29
Arno Khidirbegishvili, editor-in-chief of Sakinformi news agency: “Drug users and pederasts are discrediting Old Tbilisi’s cultural image.”

Civil society organizations

Asaval-Dasavali, August 19-25
Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, Human Rights Defenders Union: “Let’s agree from the very beginning that there is not even a single television or edition in Georgia, except for Asaval-Dasavali and Media Union Obieqtivi, which has not fallen in the clutches of LGBT propaganda.” 

Asaval-Dasavali, July 8-14
Sandro Bregadze, Georgian March: “Even if only I have to come out, I will not let them hold a gay pride parade! You will have to step over my body! I call on everybody to gather at Rustaveli Avenue on July 8, at 10 am. Yes, we should gather at Rustaveli Avenue and not in some parks, gardens or other remote places; we should occupy the square outside the Parliament and should not allow a parade of homosexuals! Georgia is and will remain the only country, where depravity and Sodom’s sin will never triumph. And once again, I call on everybody to gather at Rustaveli Avenue! God with us and we will win!”

Clerics

Georgia and World, August 7
Giorgi Razmadze, cleric: “When a handful of homosexuals are silently walking in the streets and holding pride parades secretly, if they have so many pro-western “civilized” supporters, why do not they come out and show their multitude. If they were in the majority, they should not begin playing with figures and creating some illusions about their multitude; they would directly launch repressions. They are in the minority and they dare so much and if they constituted 70% and “anti-liberal people” – only 4%, can you imagine what might have happened?”

Asaval-Dasavali, July 1-7
Grigol Gogichadze, archpriest: “Depraved homosexuals got on their bikes to lead an alleged anti-occupation rally with colorful balloons. To say bluntly, a rally of a dirty, furious sect is being underway at Rustaveli Avenue and it aims at insulting the public, inciting provocations and bloodshed! If homosexuals impose their ideology on the population, be sure that Georgia will be ended and Wrath of God will be unavoidable! Therefore, the entire nation should rise against these dirty and depraved Sodomists! Even Jalal ad-Din and Timur did not pose such a threat to Georgia, like these dirty Sodomists!”

Interpressnews, July 7
Davit Isakadze, archpriest: “It was reported today that gremlins [LGBT community] plan to hold a parade. This is yet another huge provocation against our country, statehood, morality and religion… Some people call this parade “March of Dignity.” We, 97% of the Georgian population, know that it is a march of depravity and immorality and we, the Georgian people, Caucasians will never tolerate it. We have the right and I want to take a walk on Rustaveli Avenue, together with my children, but I do not want to see these terrible, awful people who insult my country and religion…” 

Society

Georgian Public Broadcaster, Moambe, July 8 
Levan Vasadze, businessman: “We will not allow them to hold a pride parade; we will demand abolition of the anti-discrimination law and instead adoption of the law against propaganda of depravity in Georgia.”

Pirveli news agency, August 23
Nika Katsaridze, actor: “Perfect love – television encourages any depravity. It is voiced in various TV shows that women may have more perfect love with each other than a woman and a man. What they are preaching, what they are talking about – adolescents listen to everything. How can same-sex relationship be normal? God has not created it this way. I cannot understand it and how can I tolerate them?” We have already become zombies. People are walking in the streets without any faith, hopeless faces. I am like a squeezed lemon, how can I play? How to show this pain? We always resemble others, thinking that they are better.”  gza.kvirispalitra.ge

Anti-Western

Politicians

Rustavi 2, Kurieri, July 2
Sopo Kikacheishvili, Georgian Dream: “Everything is good [in Russia], food, clothes; do you think that Europe is better? Europe – the country of homosexuals and lesbians? I like Russia, their traditions.”

Georgia and World, July 3
Vazha Otarashvili, Alliance of Patriots: “Visiting the Patriarch and making the sign of the cross will not help the man [Archil Talakvadze], who will support legalization of homosexuality, who will support the Code on the Right of the Child, which is nothing but a family destruction. Although His Holiness blessed you, Mr. Parliament Speaker, nothing will change the fact that your team is an embodiment of godlessness. Your cheap fraud will not work, because your political spirit was clearly demonstrated years ago, when you were adopting laws opposed by the entire country upon dictation from the West. Georgian people were on the one side and you were on the other. This was and is your choice, which you cannot hide through your visits to the Patriarchate.” 

Media

Asaval-Dasavali, August 12-18
Dito Chubinidze, journalist: “Shortly speaking, things in the government and in the country will go as recommended from outside. If you obey, you will have to live under the thumb of gay activists and liberasts financed by Mamuka Khazaradze or foreign foundations.” 

Georgia and World, August 13
Givi Somkhishvili, author: “The depraved present day has its authors, who are boasting with the poems written in a toilet – sexually depraved maniacs with sexual attraction towards their mothers. I wonder whether the creative works of these toilet writers would be appreciated in Byron’s homeland. Their pampering is just the result of bagging Europeanization by Georgian prodigal sons.  Promotion of such obscenity will remain as a shameful stain on Europe’s history. This shameful stain, accompanying Satan’s Euro-Atlantic dancing, tries to dirty the unblemished spiritual nature of Georgians.”

Clerics

Georgia and World, July 10
Giorgi Razmadze, cleric: “For years, we had been witnessing the attempts to present anti-state, anti-national, anti-Christian forces to people in an acceptable form. People were told that nobody was imposing anything on Georgia and so on. Despite it, Georgia did not accept homosexuality, swearing at the church, insulting the Patriarch, mocking, insulting and discrediting the Christianity offered through their insidious methods. And it was equal to failure for them. Now they are trying to use the issue of occupation as a shield, sparing no efforts for this purpose, but in vain, because like hay fire, dirty minds poisoned with liberal poison cannot hide themselves behind any mask.”

Interpressnews, July 7
Davit Isakadze, archipriest: “No matter how many of us gather, we will actively oppose staging such provocations. First of all, I would like the lady from the U.S. Embassy to know about it – do not promote the development of such harmful processes [Week of Dignity]. Fortunately, Georgia is not within the limits of the United States. We have our own morality and we have not lost God like it, unfortunately, happens in the United States and Europe.”

Society

Obieqtivi, Akhali Ambebi – Mtavari, July 11
Givi Sikharulidze, actor: “It was ordered by Europe and America to make this movie [the Georgian movie about LGBT people “And Then We Danced”] in order to deprave; the entire world is working on depraving small nations. We should lose our ideals, we should have no heroes, no knights. We should not have honest women. The world is working on it in order to rule us well.”