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Gubaz Sanikidze, Democratic Movement: “Several tens of thousands of Iranians have already been herded into Tbilisi; they live here and own real estate. Later, they will demand autonomy and the Persian language as they had already done previously. There were cultural relations between us during 3000 years, but there also were bloody relations.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 29
Vazha Otarashvili, Alliance of Patriots: “This small country is facing a threat of our demographic degradation… Time may come when a total number of foreign Diasporas will exceed the number of Georgian people and we are already facing this threat. Let’s walk in the streets of Tbilisi and look… tomorrow or the day after tomorrow these people will trample down the Georgian nation!”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 25
Jondi Bagaturia, Georgian Troupe: “It is impossible to identify 60%, whether they [migrants] are murderers, maniacs… nobody knows… Tens of thousands of talented Georgian students have been deprived of their student status, because they cannot pay tuition fees and they [migrants] are taught here free of charge.”
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Georgia and World, March 13
Beso Barbakadze, journalist: “Number of visiting foreign citizens is increasing from year to year and they are occupying the houses abandoned by Georgians. Iranians, Indians have bought tens of houses in Racha-Lechkhumi and now they are trying to persuade Georgians to sell their lands to them in order to become actual owners of these lands, to cultivate them and exploit the impoverished local population as slaves.”
Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 19
Nino Ratishvili, host: “There is training equipment [in Red Park] and small children are gathering there. Once I witnessed how Iranians came there and smoked cigarettes in the presence of those small children. I told them once or twice, why they were smoking and they said “sorry, sorry” and left. Then, I asked Georgian guys why they were tolerating it and they answered that once they express discontent, Georgian patrol police takes them to police station, fines them or detains. So, such attitude should be changed.”
Alia, March 11-17
Levan Javakhishvili, journalist: “When Syrian refugees come here, you will not be able to utter even a word. If you say something, it will be perceived as discrimination of Syrians on ethnic grounds and you will be brought to justice. They can do it even today against those people, who express protest over bringing foreign refugees to the country, but they do not need it today.”
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Civil society organizations
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Rezonansi, March 2
Anzor Sakandelidze, Georgian Union of Reformers: “Today, when Georgia is being abandoned by Georgians and instead filled by non-Georgians, the authorities and the government should have no other priority than to promote the return of emigrants to Georgia. Regrettably, the situation is really problematic in this regard and the government has failed to develop a program on the return of emigrants for decades.”
Georgia and World, March 13
Zviad Tomaradze, Nation and State: “Migrants are mainly involved in tourism. They bring tourists from their native countries and act as guides. Moreover, they open restaurants and hookah bars – they rent areas in the central districts of Tbilisi for entertainment purposes. It is also worth noting that prostitution is flourishing in these so called restaurants and Georgian girls are involved in it; drugs are used there and so on. Shortly speaking, Georgia is associated with a free space, where one can do everything.”
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Georgia and World, March 21
Guram Kartvelishvili, historian: “…The Georgians should abandon the state and those who stay should tolerate everything. Everything is interlinked. Signing of the pact on migrants was one of the next treacherous steps. Hundreds of thousands of people will be resettled from Arabic countries and our young people should not worry about that.”
Asaval-Dasavali, March 18-24
Professor Gela Gligvashvili: “So, they developed this treacherous draft organic law [on lands], which actually legalizes the sale of our strategic wealth to aliens! This is nothing but treason!”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 7
Vazha Otarashvili, Alliance of Patriots: “How does the government or the Parliament resist, for example, Turkish expansion in Adjara? How does it resist, when they arrive and open Turkish schools, actually depriving us of our youth and changing their religion?! The religion with which our ancestors brought Georgia up to date… They failed to make us kneel down with their swords and turbans and now they are trying to seize Adjara through business activities, education system, ideological and cultural expansion.”
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Obieqtivi, News, March 29
Megi Moistsrapishvili, journalist: “Until the competent authorities pay attention to the issue and search for the ways of problem solution, the situation is aggravating in Adjara on a daily basis. The tendency of reducing Georgian schools is already alarming. Against this background, over one thousand youngsters are receiving education at the institutions financed from Turkey or unclear sources. Nobody knows how harmful this process may be for the national interests.”
Asaval-Dasavali, March 11-17
Dito Chubinidze, journalist: “Someone tries to deprave our historical memory so that to call one of two predators “an enemy” and the other “a historical friend”… Presently, Russia occupies 12.6 thousand sq./m of Georgian land in Abkhazia, Tskhinvali and Ksani gorge, and Turkey occupies twice more – 24.8 thousand sq./m. Nevertheless, fool Georgians call Turkey “historical friend” and “strategic partner” and Russia – “enemy” and “occupying force.” But there is only one truth here – the both are occupying forces, the both are predators.”
Asaval-Dasavali, March 25-31
Giorgi Gigauri, journalist: “Let me recollect an amazing loyalty shown to Turkish occupation! First [ex-President Mikheil] Saakashvili and then [ex-PM Giorgi] Kvirikashvili solemnly informed us that “Turkey is our historical friend”… Okay, it’s clear that “time has changed”, but should we close our eyes on the fact that the Turks have misappropriated our historical land and now intend to seize Adjara?! It is just due to these Turkish TV series that our silly compatriots care more about Sultan Aziziye than the Bagrationi dynasty!”
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Civil society organizations
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Obieqtivi, News, March 29
Tengiz Tavdgiridze, Muslim and Christian Brothers for Defending the Unity of Georgia: “This is yet another step backwards for the country. As far as we know, these madrasas accept children above two years for day and night care. After turning seven, these children are sent to Istanbul. I wonder why our government does not pay due attention to it. The fact is that the Turkish state and Gülen are not training them for the sake of our beautiful eyes, our good families or serving our country. Let them convince us that there is no threat facing our state.”
Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 5
Davit Mkheidze, Lazare movement: “The Battle of Khresili memorial reads that the fight between Georgians and Turkish invaders took place in a certain year. Turkey did it best to make us delete the words “Turkish invaders” and write “between Georgians and enemies” instead. Didgoroba is actually the same topic.”
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Discrimination on religious grounds
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Georgia and World, March 13
Levan Chachua, Georgian Idea: “How can you talk about violation of human rights in the country, where a stand with sectarian literature of so called Jehovah’s Witnesses is placed in the middle of the street and aggressive proselytism is underway? Only the rights of Georgians are violated in this country and only Orthodoxy is being discredited.”
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Obieqtivi, News, March 19
Giorgi Lomia, Alliance of Patriots: “A video clip is being circulated on Facebook during the last five days, where a young LGBT person is dancing, trampling down the bible, insulting the icons and it happens because nobody has been punished for insulting religious feelings in our country so far… If anyone comes out and reprimands that person or LGBT representative through mass media, he will simply be eaten.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 4
Gigla Baramidze, Democratic Movement – United Georgia – Nino Burjanadze: “We have to hold some pride parade in a certain month; I only know a pride [parade] of lions… LGBT pride, okay, hold it, you have cafes, you have territories; why do you need such scales… but nobody forbids you to hold it. You have bars, restaurants, houses, places and parks, where you gather… did anybody disturb you? Should you definitely march on Rustaveli Avenue? It is nothing but propaganda, pressure by the minority on the majority.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, March 4-10
Dito Chubinidze, journalist: “Nobody would have believed 20 or even 15 years ago that any Georgian girl would be standing outside the Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, holding a poster, along with the LGBT flag, reading “My vagina belongs to me!” or “Orgasm without men!” It is nothing but depravity of the nation and its foundation was laid in the nineties, when, for example, newspaper Sarkmeli supported the screening of a certain depraved film about pederasts in the Tbilisi cinema…”
Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 3
Nino Ratishvili, host: “And finally, should only the rights of LGBT people be protected on other TV channels?”
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Alia, March 11-17
Levan Javakhishvili, journalist: “On May 2, 2014, the Parliament endorsed the anti-discrimination law. With this law, the government equaled sexual minorities to other groups (ethnic, religious, racial) and granted the same rights to them. The minority, being furious about the anti-discrimination law, does not obey anyone. If you do not like them, they simply attack you. Georgian society is actively confronting LGBT people, trying to thwart the pride parades planned by them… The facts of sexual violence against underage boys have increased. The anti-discrimination law does not read that sexual intercourse with underage is allowed, but this law grants psychological advantage to these people. Now, they dare to do everything what they could not even imagine previously.”
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Georgia and World, March 7
Bakur Svanidze, journalist: “Major controversy was caused by the photo depicting “teacher Lado” and a famous homosexual blogger, Domenic Mango, same as Kukuri Baramidze, who is obscenely swearing at the Patriarch. Although Lado refused any links with Mango, calling the photo “accidental”, those, who have seen this photo, will agree with me that it actually depicts friendship rather than an accidental nature. Now let’s talk about the main issue – who delivers lectures in those “camps” and what are these “lectures” about? Several months ago, I released an article in the same newspaper headlined “Teacher, have you ever had a sex in this church?” The article was about Koba Bitsadze, who uploaded a photo of Bagrati Cathedral on Facebook with a text: “I have had a sexual intercourse with boys in the yard of this church many times, any problem?” In addition, you could read the following post on his Facebook page: “I am returning from youth camp. I held training for the sixth-grade students. I am delighted how well they think. They know that there is no gender equality in our country and that women are oppressed…” So, people like him held trainings in those “camps” and only God knows what they talk with children about. Who knows, maybe “Global Teacher” has invited Kukura Mango to hold a training?!
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Civil society organizations
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Asaval-Dasavali, March 4-10
Sandro Bregadze, Georgian March: “Gay parade will not be held!” Georgian March has already notified the Tbilisi Municipality and it will occupy Rustaveli Avenue on June 15-30! If they violate the law and hold a gay parade, we will meet them there and will not allow them to violate the law! Liberasts, now go to the funicular and rush down from there!
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Interpressnews, March 3
Guram Palavandishvili, Society for Protection of Children's Rights: “It is crucial to stop cultivation of divorce, depravity and homosexuality in Georgia; to abolish a neutral gender program at kindergartens; to cease LGBT lobbyism in sport; to ban a subject “Me and Society” at schools; to eradicate UN trainings in summer camps because they drag children into the acceptance of homosexuality; to stop initiating the UN-developed child code in the Parliament, because it aims at separating families and propagandizing LGBT consciousness among children.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, March 11-17
Gia Korkotashvili, Georgian Mission: “Some of our lawmakers are great supporters of LGBT people; so, will they like if their sons get married?! I will look at them and if they are not satisfied, I will spit at them. Today, Georgia is a large saucepan brewing on fire. Those who promote this depravity will be boiled in this saucepan.”
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Alia, March 25-31
Givi Sikharulidze, actor: “Entire television is propagandizing female prostitution and male “pederasty”. If a person wants to be a real Georgian woman, she should be a prostitute and a real man should be “a pederast” – this is a widespread opinion. Just that is why all my opinions have been ruined and I hate the word “society” – it is idiotism…”
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Alia, March 4-10
Guram Kartvelishvili, historian: “Our children have become drug users and our schools have turned into an arena of pederasty.”
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Georgia and World, March 13
Levan Chachua, Georgian Idea: “I have noted for multiple times that if previously Bolshevik terror was carried out under the directives of the Red Commissars, in our time, the puppets of Blue Commissars will carry out repressions against the religious nation.”
Kavkasia, Spektri, March 14
Kakha Kukava, Free Georgia: “So, according to this code [on the rights of the child], a child has an unrestricted access to the Internet and if a parent forbids it, a child can call patrol police and let them arrest a parent… It is full cretinism; it is a step towards dismantling our traditional families... What the Parliament of Georgia is doing now is a harmful step… Generally, the code says everything, clarifying that a child should be brought up under the principles of the United Nations, liberalism, tolerance; it says nothing about the fact that a child is part of a family and not simply a natural person.”
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Georgia and World, March 13
Davit Mkheidze, author: “Even Doubting Thomas should understand that depravity, dirtiness and Satanism flowing from the West into our country have no limits and it is the bitter truth rather than so called Russian narrative (like Georgian Russophobes try to portray). But why bitter? It is no secret for a part of Georgian society with critical thinking that the head of the dog is buried not in Russia, but in the Satanist West and therefore, bitterness may be replaced by sweetness.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, March 11-17
Jaba Khubua, journalist: “Briefly speaking, PM [Irakli] Garibashvili openly confronted the neoliberal strategy of demolishing the family institute, legalizing same-sex marriage and turning our nation into drug addicts that actually became the main and primary reason for his resignation.”
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Georgia and World, March 27
Beso Barbakadze, journalist: “The non-governmental sector is doing its utmost to propagandize it [same-sex marriage]; not only are they saying that we should like them, but they are also hinting that it is good and exemplary. They even bring an example of European countries, saying that Europe is a real Nirvana for LGBT people, while those countries, where their “rights” are restricted, are undemocratic. When Russia, for example, banned gatherings of LGBT people at a legislative level, everyone in Georgia welcomed it. But when it became necessary to say loudly about welcoming the ban, everybody went in hiding. Meanwhile, people did not stop applauding when several weeks ago France removed “mother” and “father” from the column of parents, legalizing “parent No.1” and “parent No.2” instead. Apparently, if children mix up their numbers, they will align parents in the morning and assign numbers to them.”
Alia, March 4-10
Bakur Svanidze, journalist: “Generally, I think that this civic education was deliberately introduced at kindergartens and schools in order to bring their “liberast” supporters there… It does not need any diploma or qualification… These people simply went through two-month “preparation courses” and started to work as “civic education” teachers… They are taking children to occupation museum and swearing at Russia, simultaneously praising Turkey and pederasts. This is how their “civic education” looks like.”
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Civil society organizations
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Marshalpress, March 3
Guram Palavandishvili, Society for Protection of Children’s Rights: “It is crucial to stop cultivation of divorce, depravity and homosexuality in Georgia; to abolish a neutral gender program at kindergartens; to cease LGBT lobbyism in sport; to ban a subject “Me and Society” at schools; to eradicate UN trainings in summer camps because they drag children into the acceptance of homosexuality; to stop initiating the UN-developed child code in the Parliament, because it aims at separating families and propagandizing LGBT consciousness among children.”
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Georgia and World, March 7
Dimitri Lortkipanidze, the Primakov Georgian-Russian Public Center: “As for this particular bill [child code], we will do our utmost and use all means at our disposal. We will raise alarm and stand together against this inquisition bill. This is the bill, which will separate parents and children and demolish the system of values in the families. It is a purposeful plan to develop punishment mechanisms at a legislative level and to take children out of parents’ control forever.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, March 5
Davit Mkheidze, Lazare movement: “Russia and Georgia are those two territories in post-Soviet space, where same-sex marriage, gay pride parades have failed to gain a foothold so far and that makes [liberals] furious. They have an idée fixe to deprave, ruin the entire world.”
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Marshalpress, March 20
Tea Tsulukiani, Justice Minister: “I know for sure that Ms. Tina is making a lot of groundless statements and simultaneously, she is a very beautiful woman. I know it.”
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Netgazeti, March 29
Jemal Sepiashvili, composer: “I believe that a man is the strength of a family. A man is the strength of a country, the defender of a country and therefore, these 25 men will sing this song.”
Alia, March 25-31
Givi Sikharulidze, actor: “Women are striving for gender equality, are not they? So, they should work like men and should have no ambition to become ministers, lawmakers and so on. This is how I understand gender equality! Is it gender equality when a wife beats her husband eight times and when a man is named Tina and his wife is named Zhora?!.. Some of my friends have such families that I want to kiss the feet of their wives, but I also have friends, whose wives return home at dawn, telling their husbands that they drank a toast to them eight times. If you ask me about the relations between a wife and a husband, I would say that a wife should think all day long how to become her husband’s slave, but in reality, a clever woman will turn her husband into a slave. When a husband sees that his wife looks into his eyes and is ready to sacrifice herself for him, a real man will become her slave hundred-fold. ”
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See full collection of examples of discriminatory statements at the website: www.notophobia.ge
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Newsletter was developed by Media Development Foundation (MDF) within the frameworks of the Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness Program in Georgia, supported by USAID and implemented by UNAG.
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Opinions and ideas provided in this newsletter are those of the Media Development Foundation (MDF) and do not represent the official position of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the UN Association of Georgia.
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