Georgia: opponents of gay parade announce protests against LGBT people

A large-scale action against LGBT people will be held next week in Georgia, Levan Vasadze, a businessman, has announced, noting that protesters are ready to confront policemen. In his turn, Giorgi Burdjanadze, Deputy Ombudsperson, has called on opponents to the gay parade not to abuse the freedom of self-expression.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, LGBT activists gathered at the government building, protesting against the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate about the inadmissibility of the gay parade. Participants of the counteraction, clergymen among them, also gathered there.

Some people of those who tried to prevent the June 14 LGBT actions were detained for disobeying the police. Seven detainees were arrested, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has reported.

The Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili, has accused participants in both actions of provocations. "I am President of all, irrespective of one's religious or sexual orientation. I believe that no one should be a victim of discrimination," the "Georgia Online" quotes her as stating.

The June 14 confrontation of LGBT activists and their opponents revealed a serious problem, Zaal Andjaparidze, the head of the NGO "Citizen", has stated.

"The dominant religion of an Orthodox country, according to which non-traditional sexual orientations are serious sins, as well as traditions of our society, have come into conflict with the country's Constitution," Mr Andjaparidze wrote in his Facebook.