Georgia’s ruling party official: even if Georgia were offered immediate EU membership, allowing LGBT propaganda would be red line

Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Thursday said that even if Georgia were offered immediate European Union membership without any conditions, the Government would reject any requirement to permit “LGBT propaganda” in the country, calling it a “red line”.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Machavariani discussed Georgia’s transparency law, arguing that similar legislation had been adopted or strengthened in several Western countries and that such laws were necessary to protect national sovereignty.

“Regarding the transparency law, the United Kingdom tightened similar legislation after us for the second time, the United States has had such a law in force for a century, Canada adopted one after us, France has adopted one, and now Romania is doing the same. Everyone says these laws are needed to protect sovereignty”, he noted.

“We agree - they need them, and Georgia needs one as well. Let them point to a specific provision or article that violates human rights or is incompatible with European values, and we are, of course, ready to discuss it”, Machavariani continued.

The official further rejected claims that Georgia has political prisoners.

“They keep insisting there are political prisoners. There have been no political prisoners in Georgia since 2012. As for calling Mikheil Saakashvili, Nika Melia, or Elene Khoshtaria political prisoners - I apologise, but they are serving the punishment they deserve”, he concluded.