Ucha Nanuashvili: opponents of sexual minorities' rally in Tbilisi originally express their aggressive mood

The Tbilisi police should have prevented the collisions that occurred today during a rally in support of sexual minorities. This was stated by Ucha Nanuashvili, Ombudsman of Georgia. According to his opinion, the opponents of the rally were originally in aggressive mood, and that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) was aware in advance that they would come close to the participants of the rally.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today, in Tbilisi, at the former parliament building, a rally was to be held to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. The Mayoralty has also received a notification of "assembly and demonstration" of believers to be held at the school located next to the parliament building nearby. The opponents of the rally in support of sexual minorities broke through the police cordon, and clashes occurred, as a result of which 17 persons were injured.

The special appeal of the Ombudsman states that the protest against the rally of the LGBT community "has gone beyond all bounds of the law."

"The law enforcement bodies could not use strength against the offenders. Despite the fact that the MIA was aware several days in advance of the rallies to be held in the same place, they could not prevent the risk. Yes, the police kept the cordon; however, policemen failed to hold it, and, as a result, people were injured," Ucha Nanuashvili has stated.

The Ombudsman emphasizes that the protesters originally had in their minds not a peaceful action, but aggression, and, as a result, people were injured. According to the Ombudsman's information, the condition of the victims is considered to be stable.

The total number of protesters reached 20,000 persons, including both young and older people, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The protestors were holding in their hands the posters reading: "Propaganda of sins and their support are crimes", "Next step is legitimization of sin?", and "Georgia faces acute demographic problem". Several persons came to the protest action with Georgian flags of the old sample.