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Imedi, Kronika, May 18; Rustavi 2, Kurieri, May 18; Marshalpress, May 19; Netgazeti, May 18; Interpressnews, May 18, Koba Lursmanashvili, Georgian Dream: “Of course, the rights of both consumers and various minorities should be protected in our society, but as a citizen, I categorically demand protection of public interests, interests of the society whose interests are frequently trampled down just by drug users, drug traders and pederasts.” http://www.myvideo.ge/v/3595090
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Rezonansi, May 17, Zaza Papuashvili, Georgian Dream: “Some people used to say in France: “1 am Charlie Hebdo.” I am not Charlie Hebdo. This formulation is acceptable only if such cartoons incite strife, confrontation. I think, this can be prevented, like human behaviors – nobody bursts into your home, but people, who hate LGBT propaganda, drug use propaganda and similar imprudence, probably, cannot tolerate it. A small group uses violence against a large group.”
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Marshalpress, May 16, Irma Inashvili, Alliance of Patriots of Georgia: “It appears that minorities within the minority always oppress the majority. When these minorities within the minority demand us to respect them and to say no to violent attitude, okay, violence is unacceptable, but we also demand respect… The majority has already been insulted by constant talks about drug legalization, permanent rallies of LGBT community. I do not fight against the existence of LGBT community; let them exist, it’s their business, but I am against propaganda. I call propaganda when we are pressed that “if you are not with us, you are ignorant.”
TV Pirveli, Reaktsia
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 17, Bondo Mdzinarashvili, host: “Is it [LGBT people] a new individual, or new ideology for people? Similar people, who are today called LGBT people, to say nothing about the so called Trans people, had always existed in all epochs and periods. Everybody knew about their existence, but nobody touched them, because they did not try to deprave, for example, neighbor’s children. They did not try to become school teachers. Probably there were such people among teachers, but nobody knew about it. Today, they all have come out, saying that they can teach, become servicemen and so on.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 14-20, Giorgi Gigauri, journalist: “Biocistern Revolution” does not hide that they plan to hold a large gay pride parade on Rustaveli Avenue on May 17. They made it clear at the rally that they would mark May 17 just here. God save us from their presence here till May 17. Let me say bluntly: if the government does not clean up this trash on Rustaveli Avenue, Georgian people will do it before May 17. Yes, all non-pederast, non-liberast and non-drug using Georgian patriots, tens of thousands of men and women should come out on Rustaveli Avenue on May 14 and clean up trash on this sacred site flooded with the blood of the April 9 heroes.”
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Georgia and World, May 17, Beso Barbakadze, journalist: “Lasha Bugadze announced loudly that it is the choice between regress and progress and that we choose progress. It means that men in dresses and gowns is a progress; girls kissing each other is a progress; admission of teenagers into night clubs and then collecting syringes and condoms on the adjacent territories is a progress… It is a progress in Bugadze’s understanding and the state is to blame for this.”
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Civil society organizations
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Alia, May 7-13, Sandro Bregadze, Georgian March: “A gay pride parade is scheduled for May 17 and the government is doing its best to help them hold a grandiose parade. They arrested some members of the Georgian March to prevent them from thwarting the parade… We are their [government’s] enemies and they are supporters of dirty ideas of Soros and other liberasts in the country.”
Alia, May 14-20, Gia Korkotashvili, Georgian Mission: “You [Georgian Dream] neither trust the Patriarch nor have any fear of God; you dance to pederasts’ tune. Do you think that your current positions have been left by your grandfathers?!”
Georgia and World, May 31, Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, Eurasian Institute: “I am quite pessimistic, I do not want to cheat myself. Georgia will again face permanent destabilization, poverty and chaos. It is a natural condition for Georgia, as it had been for centuries, but then we acted like men and used swords. Today we have Sodom and drug use.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 14-20, Dimitri Lortkipanidze, the Primakov Russian-Georgian Center: “The British online magazine makes it clear that there is a so called dark room in Basiani, where homosexual sex orgies are held. In particular, a representative of a pro-Soros non-governmental organization – Equality Movement, Levan Berianidze tells a British journalist that Basiani club offers everything that a gay may wish at night.”
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Imedi, Kronika, May 17, Davit Lasurashvili, archpriest: “We came here [May 17 counterdemonstration] to announce that LGBT propaganda is absolutely unacceptable. We express protest against those people, who propagandize the gravest sins, for which the mankind had been punished most of all.”
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Alia, May 21, Melchizedek Dekanosidze, metropolitan: “An honest man dies from hunger and depraved people, followers of Sodom sins are promoted in our country – why? Because we will receive more money! Because such people hold leading positions everywhere! And that honest man fails to get a job!”
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Iberia, Tavisupali Sivrtse, May 4, Givi Sikharulidze, actor: “When someone beats a lesbian, I will shield her with my body, but when you are a lesbian or a person like this… you are not a person, you are Satan and you want to impose your views on your children, grandchildren, my country, I hate you, I hate you very much, because I know that you have been bribed by Soros followers or hired by Masons.”
Rezonansi, May 17, Zaza Piralishvili, philosopher: “I saw other dangers in these processes – a tendency to achieve what one perceives as freedom through psychological and moral repressions. One of the representatives of this subculture, who regretfully holds high position now, said that “we should legalize same sex marriage. The society cannot accept it now, but will eventually yield to it.” What is the difference between this rhetoric and the rhetoric of young Bolsheviks of the 1920s?
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 26, Vazha Otarashvili, Alliance of Patriots of Georgia: “Just count how many people among those 100 individuals who enter the Public Service Hall are Georgian citizens or foreign nationals. This is elementary statistics. You will guess what is happening in Georgia. Foreigners are already buying entire sections in apartment buildings near the Sport Palace, Vake and this process has been accelerated with the support of Georgian government. Therefore, I am frequently calling on the Georgians to awaken; one day you will wake up and find out that the Georgians no longer constitute two millions, but instead, over two million Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Turks and Iranians have entered.”
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Marshalpress, May 10, Otar Chrdileli, Georgian Dream: “We should not pin hopes only on the state. Drug propaganda and liberalization should stop. Otherwise, this country will remain in the hands of aliens.” Social network
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Rezonansi, May 8, Tamar Mukbaniani, journalist: “… It is impossible to find official statistics in Georgia about how many illegals stay in the country; it creates both security and social problems. The country already faces unemployment problems and average salaries are extremely low, whereas illegal migrants promote additional competition for job seekers. In big countries, illegal migrants are considered a cheap labor force and an advantage from economic point of view. Georgia has no such need because local labor force is already cheap in our country.”
Sakinform, May 31, editorial board: “It will become more difficult to accept Georgian citizenship (that is a positive factor in itself, considering the flow of illegal migrants from Turkey, Syria, Iran, India, China and the Middle East and African countries, who purchase real estate, get married and launch profitable businesses in Georgia, getting the advantage over poor and unemployed local residents) than to accept the citizenship of other countries and to maintain Georgian citizenship.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 10, Bondo Mdzinarashvili, host: “Who lives in these [newly built] apartments? Do Georgian people have so much money to settle into so many apartments, to say nothing about the construction boom in Didi Digomi. Are all these houses built for foreigners? Are these houses built for aliens? Are they built for aliens so that they arrive in our country, sow their semen in our soil and blossom here? That is the reason for distorting the center of our city and the entire city.”
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Civil society organizations
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Rustavi 2, P.S., May 20, Giorgi Chelidze, National Unity of Georgia: “If similar processes develop, number of ethnic Georgians will be halved in Georgia. Quite recently, the Chinese beat Georgian workers, severely injuring them with hatchets and reinforcing bars for construction. They were fined with GEL 100, whereas two young people were sentenced to four years in prison for a scuffle with no victims and the case of 11 young Georgian nationalists is under consideration.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 7-13, Vladimer Barkaia, athlete: “Foreigners are taking the place of Georgians who were driven from their homeland into exile. They talk with us as if they are masters and hosts in this country. It is almost impossible to hear Georgian speech in Batumi. Georgian is not heard in the center of Tbilisi, Agmashenebeli Avenue either.”
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Kavkasia, Spectrum, May 30, Irakli Machavariani, businessman: “… About migration policy, considering the fact that there is a huge emigration of Georgians in Georgia, is not it? Over one million Georgians have left the country and certain bastards arrive here to replace them. Tomorrow we may appear in the minority in our own country. Therefore, no matter whether they are Syrians or others, we should deal with immigrants with great attention and caution.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 9, Giorgi Lomia, Alliance of Patriots of Georgia: “Let’s imagine that Russia is not an occupant, but it made a statement that Tskhinvali and Sokhumi once belonged to Russia and they should be restored within Russia’s borders. The entire world will kick up a fuss and say that Russia is preparing for occupation and so on. Turkey said that the portion of land to Ozurgeti belonged to the Ottoman Empire and it should be restored. Not a single man uttered even a word. What is more, they called us Turkophobes and accused us of Turkophobia. These are double, triple and quintuple standards.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 8, Davit Mkheidze, journalist of Georgia and World: “Let me once again warn the leadership - the validity of the Treaty of Kars will expire in 1921. If we do not normalize our relations with Russia till 1921, they [Turks] will take it away and arrive in Guria. They have this right under the treaty [of Kars].”
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Alia, May 21, Davit Nemsadze, reserve officer: “With his glorious Georgian speech, Mr. Levan Gvinjilia blessed and purified Agmashenebeli Avenue, which has turned into the venue of the Turks, their whores, chaikhanas (tea-houses) and chilim bars… We were standing on Agmashenebeli Avenue and nothing but a pavement belonged to us, the Georgians, and it was quite possible. What is the sense of such life, when you will be killed alive, and your homeland will be privatized by foreigners; I feel half alive, half dead.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 26, Vazha Otarashvili, Alliance of Patriots of Georgia: “Is it freedom, when there are brothels around Rustaveli Avenue, where young girls aged 14, 15 and 16 are depraved by Muslims of various nationalities? Do we, the Georgians, call it freedom now?”
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Georgia and World, May 10, editorial board: “Georgian nation has always had to struggle for maintaining its Christianity largely due to the fact that it was surrounded by strong Muslim states. The struggle with them has numerously put Georgia on the verge of destruction, but thank God, we managed to overcome all troubles. We managed to maintain our homeland, language, religion… Recent terrorist acts committed in the world confirm that insulting of religious feelings can cause serious unrests. God save us from the same situation in our country. A blow against religion, orthodoxy – that is the greatest threat today.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 22, Lazare Zakariadze, publicist: “For example, one of the districts of Oslo, Norway, populated by Muslims, demanded independence, claiming that they [Norwegians] did not understand them and their Islam and therefore demanded [independence]… I am absolutely serious about it and do not be surprised if they really separate; so, these processes are underway in Europe.”
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Discrimination on religious grounds
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 21-27, Basil Mkalavishvili, cleric: “I was calling on the Georgian Patriarchate 15-20 years ago to react to the rampage of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who entered the country as agents, but nobody listened to me.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 9, Giorgi Lomia, Alliance of Patriots of Georgia: “And how can this Nigerian say that “what complaints do you have, is not it so?” A girl answers him “do you know” and he interrupts “no, I do not know, tell me.” I am a lawmaker, but luckily I was not invited to that program, because I have an obligation to be patient, but I fear that I would not be patient at that moment. Nobody has the right to arrive in my country and insult me, to insult Georgians! We, the Georgians, do not insult them, what a nonsense!”
Asaval-Dasavali, May 7-13, Elizbar Javelidze, People’s Assembly: “Look at what is happening on Georgian TV channels. It turns out that we should like the Nigerians; it turns out that we are racists because we do not hug them! Georgia has already turned black! Liberasts, let your families turn black! They even made me start cursing!”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 9, Bondo Mdzinarashvili, host: “They call us, the Georgians, xenophobes, racists and these Nigerians, these people, these Negroes… a Negro is not a bad word. It is mentioned in the Man in the Panther’s Skin and now we cannot remove two lines from the Man in the Panther’s Skin because of a certain Nigerian monkey. We cannot distort our literary masterpiece! They want to make us justify ourselves. “What particular complaints do you have against Nigerians?” We do not have any complaints against Nigerians; let them go to their Nigeria and let them teach there something, Georgian, for example… Let them teach there what they learned in Georgia, I do not know, toasts, maybe. What else would they have learned; their brains are not good enough to learn something else and now these people try to make us justify ourselves.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 14-20, Giorgi Gigauri, journalist: “Let me ask the administration of the Education Ministry: how did this man [a Nigerian citizen, who participated in Imedi TV program] appear at Georgian school?! What will he teach Georgian children? Why should he inspire Adjarian children that Tbilisi is oppressing them and that is why not a single Adjarian President has been elected in the country so far?” This two-legged man with a phallus stuck in his brains enters a classroom with Georgian children and poisons their minds! Expel this “Misha sailor” from school. There is no place for him either at school, or in Georgia, if you ask me. Any dignified country would pack his belongings and deport him to homeland!”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 14-20, Gia Gabrichidze, citizen: “We should think twice and then act, because it seems that soon we will rename Freedom Square into Nigerian Square.”
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Hate speech/encouraging violence
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 24; Rustavi 2, Kurieri, May 24; Marshalpress, May 24; Rustavi 2, P.S., May 27; Rezonansi, May 26; Sakinform, May 28; Interpressnews, May 24; Alia, May 28, Iobi Akiashvili, metropolitan: “The so called journalist [Giorgi Gabunia], he is not a journalist, but he is a devil’s servant, who insulted the Jesus, first and then St. Mary. He is damned… Now, what can I, a cleric, say about it; this person cannot be forgiven. He should quit not only journalism, but Georgia, as a whole. On my part, I curse and damn him! He will not repent; he is a devil’s servant. And generally, this television should be closed. It poisons entire Georgia. It cannot be tolerated. If you listen to his words, you will definitely lose control. He is a gremlin, devil’s servant!” https://www.myvideo.ge/v/3599074
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 24, Erekle Sagliani, poet: “Let me recollect one story and it will be my answer [to Giorgi Gabunia’s monologue]. Several years ago, an American couple, who arrived in Persia and staged a public sex in Persepolis, were stoned to death by Iranians. The entire world talked about this wild reprisal by Iranians and nobody apologized for the American couple’s beastly behavior. So what happens, there are some actions and these actions have a force until it is possible to persuade someone, but when people behave in a manner that is incomprehensible for human mind, then aggression emerges. Now, you brought an example of Charlie Hebdo. We all remember what happened there. Personally I am against any violence, but I do not know who uses more violence – the editorial board or those terrorists, who burst there and committed that terrible act.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 14-20, Soso Shatberashvili, Left-Wing Allaince: “Look at our TV channels – Is drug popularization the rule of healthy life? Or is apologia of gender theory the rule of healthy life, when they claim that men and women are equal! Like Jesus is the head of church, man is the head of family! This is a millennium-old Christian philosophy and just that is why they fought against it!”
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Civil society organizations
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 7, Nana Devdariani, Global Research Center: “30 years ago, one producer patted an actress on a wrong place. After 30 years, they seized his company, slung mud at him and drove him to mental disorder … why did this woman allow him to act this way and why did not she report on him immediately? All these are campaigns… It is a global development.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, Mamia Tugushi, professor: “Time has come for the society to make correct emphasis and instead of talking about senseless issues, such as gender equality… to talk about those serious problems, which Georgian sport faces today!... Probably, those women face the problem of gender equality, whose immoral behavior deserves disrespect. Respect, modesty and restraint towards the weaker sex was clearly demonstrated in our sphere.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 21-27, Oleg Iadze, Georgian Dream: “The May 17 rally has proved that we cannot become Europeans and it is not needed at all. Georgia is not Europe, Georgia is Caucasus and that’s it. Who obstructs those bastard “blues” or browns to do whatever they want? But I will not allow them to pass by me waving their buttocks and I will not allow them to impose their dirtiness on me. Can 0.01% of the population infringe upon the rights of others and dictate the rule of their dirty life to others?
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Kavkasia, Barieri, May 21, Giorgi Akhvlediani, United Democratic Movement: “Do not you, a Georgian, want gay marriages in the country? Then you are pro-Russian, because Russia does not want gay marriages either. Therefore, you are Putinist! We are told everywhere that we are racists, fascists, pro-Russians, because we are Georgians.”
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Obieqtivi, Gamis Studia, May 18, Nino Ratishvili, host: “I listened to various speeches during these days and there is an opinion … do you know why LGBT community is unacceptable in Georgia? Because Russia wants it… Let’s agree that life and health are good, but why do you wish my family what you do not want for your own family? Russia has nothing to do with it. As soon as we say “no to propaganda”, they claim that it is a Russian narrative. What do they try to do by it? Will the West be deceived by it? Who needs such a lie? And then why are they surprised that Russian narrative is growing in Georgia?”
Asaval-Dasavali, May 21-27, Jaba Khubua, journalist: “We, the Georgians, have an ambition that the Georgian government expresses the interests of Georgian nation and does not take anti-national steps for fear of liberast non-governmental organizations, liberast media and foreign embassies, such as adoption of the anti-discrimination law, sale of Georgian lands, drug legalization, granting residence permits to illegal migrants in Georgia, etc.”
Georgia and World, May 16, editorial board: “The problem of moral degradation of young people by Western propaganda is persisting in other countries as well. The problem of degradation of youth morality, consciousness under the influence of Western propaganda is persisting not only in Georgia, but in other countries too, including Russia, whose security council secretary said that foreign special services try and frequently successfully to exert influence on young people and change their moral orientation.”
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Civil society organizations
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Georgia and World, May 24, Levan Chachua, Georgian Idea: “The puppets of western liberals decided to gather in the center of the capital. They stated loudly: We are the future of this country, we will review parades both on May 17 and May 26. Shortly speaking, homosexuals decided that everything belongs to them and the rest of Georgia should keep silent. I was kept in Nadzaladevi district police until fifty so called human rights activists completed the parade. As soon as they detached them from the area, I was returned home.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 21-27, Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, Union of Human Rights Defenders: “On May 17, Soros once again put his finger on the pulse of Georgia – it turns out that Georgian people are still alive, meaning that more press and more finances will be coming from them. The Soros wing led by Tamar Chugoshvili tries to stage a new revolution!.. During his last visit to Georgia, John McCain turned his back to Kvirikashvili and held a harmonious dialogue with Chugoshvili. Soros has once ousted Shevardnadze’s government. Do not you understand that the situation is moving in the same direction along with arresting people, playing on religious feelings?! These arrests and pampering homosexuals will not vanish without trace!”
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Georgia and World, May 24, Davit Isakadze, archpriest: “First of all, it should be said that the European Union exerts huge pressure on the government, considering the Association Agreement. The LGBT movement had been planning this event for a long time and foreign diplomats led them like a ruling force.”
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Georgia and World, May 24, Davit Isakadze, archpriest: “I have no phobia towards these people, I mean sexual minorities; on the contrary, I feel pity for them, because they live in the gravest sin. But the fact is that those forces, who target the Georgian church and entire Georgian society, seize upon the opportunity and as soon as any desire of defending national interests, national identity is expressed, they start dubbing us as “fascists,” “Nazis” or “homophobes” … This is how they prepare the ground for repressive policy, which should completely destroy and destruct national ideology in the society in a long-term perspective. This is how Georgian society should turn into a neo-liberal society, which will accept everything whatever the Western globalist ideology offers it.”
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Asaval-Dasavali, May 28 – June 3, Hamlet Chipashvili, political analyst: “Fortunately or unfortunately, today it is impossible to restore article 121 [bringing criminal charges against homosexuals], because it will lead to the country’s international isolation. Our government has been stuck so deeply in a swamp of Western slavery that not only it cannot put homosexuals in jail but it cannot even tap them on the butt!”
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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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