On September 6, the Media Development Foundation (MDF) filed a complaint with the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics against an article “Does Iranization threaten Georgia? – Alarming Statistics” released by PIA news agency on August 18. In MDF’s opinion, by releasing this article PIA violated articles 3 (accuracy of sources) and 7 (facilitating discrimination) of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics.

Hate speech/ calls for violence

Asaval-Dasavali, August 28 – September 3; Alia, August 21-27, Shota Apkhaidze, Caucasian Center of Islamic Research: “We offer you a game: ‘Greet a Liberal! According to the rules of the game, you need to approach any liberal coming from the opposition direction, smile and punch him mercilessly in the jaw. It is desirable to punch in the jaw hard enough to break it. In this case, it will mean that you greeted him at full capacity. If the blow causes only a concussion or temporary loss of consciousness, it will mean that the greeting was incomplete and you will be given another chance for full greeting. Keep it up!” Alia

Xenophobia

Kviris Palitra, August 7-13, Eter Eradze, author: “After expressing protest against doubtful departure of promo girls abroad, similar statements disappeared from media outlets, but they have re-emerged recently and unanswered questions appeared again – you will fail to find such families in Georgia… I failed to ask – when there is an inflow of the Chinese to Georgia, why are Georgian girls in such demand in China.”

Civil society organizations, Alia, August 7-13, Ramaz Gagnidze, Georgian Mission: “I wrote on my Facebook page a week ago that if I saw Muslim criminal-terrorist emigrants arriving in Georgia, I would take up arms and kill them. Next day some people took screenshots of those statements and the entire liberast world made a noise… If I had written the following post – if Russian occupants cross the boundary line I will take up arms and kill them – nobody would have summoned me to police. Does it matter whom I had mentioned in my post - criminal Muslim migrant terrorists or Russian occupants?” 

Asaval-Dasavali, August 14-20, Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, Union of Human Rights Defenders: “All media outlets and government agencies were chasing 20 Russian bikers, while entire Georgia has got filled with Arabs, Turks, Chinese and Iranians!” 

Alia, August 14-20, Shota Apkhaidze, Caucasian Center of Islamic Research: “Along with a significant increase in the arrivals of Iranians, Turks and Arabs, number of drug dealers has increased by 60% compared to last year. Just migrants from the above listed countries bring large amounts of drugs and sell them in Georgia… The recent developments have shown that a gang of liberals and alien infidels lead the country into the abyss; the government is incapable.”

Turkophobia

Maestro, News at 9 pm, August 21, Kakha Kukava, Free Georgia: “For example, we will have a proposal with respect to illegal immigration that remains a persisting problem today, because the centers of Tbilisi and Batumi mostly look like the centers of Turkish cities rather than Georgian ones. It is a reality and people are talking about it.”

Georgia and the World, July 16, Davit Kvlividze, archpriest: “We see that certain forces arrive from Istanbul; they take our young people to Turkey and give them spiritual education there.  I think that Georgian special services should clarify, which country they begin to serve upon their return from Turkey. Moreover, as known, Turkish and Iranian money is invested in building Sunni and Shia mosques; they are constantly talking about the lack of Muslim mosques, the need of building new mosques and violations of religious minority rights. Now imagine that Georgian young people were taken to Russia and given spiritual education there, that they were consecrated as priests and churches were built in Georgia with Russian money, how much noise our so called liberals would make!”

Islamophobia

Asaval-Dasavali, August 21-27, Giorgi Gigauri, journalist: “Should they stage another “Barcelona carnage” in Tbilisi in order to awaken us and make us say ‘No’ to mass migration of Muslims?! If similar developments take place in Tbilisi, can you imagine what kind of the Bakhtrioni uprising will be staged by Georgian people against you and all migrants brought by you?”

 “I wonder very much, where are our liberasts, who were shouting themselves hoarse quite recently “I am Charlie Hebdo?” Why none of them has acknowledged that such mass migration of Muslims to Georgia is inadmissible. Look at the photos of the beardless Arabs suspected of the Barcelona terrorist act. Who would imagine that they might appear so bloodthirsty? But one can only imagine, how many such people walk in the streets of Tbilisi, how many of them arrive at the Tbilisi International Airport every day; how many of them go to the Public Service Hall to receive residence permits.”

Asaval-Dasavali, August 21-27, Robert Diakonidze, professor: “People told us straightly - Archbishop Spiridon (Abuladze) of Skhalta takes money from local Muslims and collects false signatures, as if the population is against building a church!”

Armenophobia

Rezonansi, August 19, Mamuka Natsvaladze, journalist: “Is it doubtful to recognize the leadership of Georgians in the Georgian-Armenian state stemming from the Armenian ethno-psychology? An Armenian finds it difficult to tolerate the leadership of others, but here he agrees to take a very modest position.”

Asaval-Dasavali, August 23 – September 3, Alexander Abdaladze, expert in Armenian studies: “Nine Brothers Kherkheulidze and nine Brothers Machabeli died in the Battle of Marabda, but where were nine Seriozhas at that time? Unfortunately, Georgia’s Armenian population evaded the war and the Armenians were only oriented to earning some money, rather than to defending the country, which gave them shelter. To tell the truth, Georgians did not trust Armenians in the struggle and were reluctant to fight alongside with them, being afraid of their betrayal.”

Homophobia

Georgia and the World, July 16, Davit Kvlividze, archpriest: “The Republicans have never hidden their attitude towards the church and religion; they always mocked at the Patriarch, Holy Synod and clergy. Simultaneously, we remember them with flying flags of homosexuals in their hands, their statements in support of homosexuals and so on. So, it is their inner world and I see nothing surprising about it. Simply, it should be given adequate response and generally, Georgian people should know, whom they are voting for.”

Asaval-Dasavali, August 7-13, Basil Mkalavishvili, cleric: “The Patriarchate kept silent and its voice was hardly heard when the damned anti-discrimination law was approved and homosexuals and depraved people were provided with the right to give lessons at schools.”

Asaval-Dasavali, August 7-13, Guram Palavandishvili; Society for Children’s Rights of Georgia: “Georgia’s misfortune began after the Parliament approved the anti-discrimination law. Its consequences are quite obvious. The representatives of LGBT herd, who settled down at schools and kindergartens, are doing their best to deprave the children spiritually.”

Georgia and the World, August 10, Givi Paatashvili, public organization “Poladi”: “Those people, who are in favor of immorality, do not like Patara Kakhi [affectionate name of King Erekle II] , because morality was paramount for him and homosexuals were not favored under his rule.”

Anti-Western Sentiments

Georgia and the World, July 16
Editorial board: “The New Yorkers expressed their concerns after they saw some tenants of the hotel located near their apartments engaged in sexual intercourse in front of their windows. It was impossible for them to look at the acts of depravity by heterosexual and homosexual couples, who left the curtains open while they had sex… The worst thing about it is that, as experts say, nobody will be able to calm down this depraved society, because, under current legislation, they can do everything whatever they want. So, this is a clear example of the freedom of liberal society.”

Asaval-Dasavali, August 21-27, Davit Isakadze, cleric: “In Germany, children of kindergarten age are specially given such dolls, which appeared on Georgian market quite recently. Moreover, preschool children play with plastic genitals and it is described as sexual education there. Simultaneously, laws are developed envisaging strict sanctions against those parents, who express protest over such approach. Our society has also entered upon this path. Therefore, we are strongly against introduction of lessons on sexual education at schools. All those persons or group of persons, who promote the introduction of such consciousness, are guilty before God as well as before the future of these children!”

Gender

Alia, August 7-13, Shota Apkhaidze, Caucasian Center of Islamic Research: “I wonder only one thing – do not these thousands of young people have any patrons? Are not their parents interested whom their girls go out with at nights? It is the beginning of the end of the nation. Did you, the supporters of the West, want to see such sovereign Georgia, with such shameful and degraded future generation?
Source: Social network

Asaval-Dasavali, August 21-27, Lasha Talakhadze, athlete: “I will not stay with a person, who will need some excuse. A woman need to show foresight. I agree with the opinion that a man can be forgiven more than a woman.”
Source: Sarke 

See full collection of examples of discriminatory statements at the website: www.notophobia.ge