PM affirms Georgia’s commitment to tolerance, minority rights

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said Georgia was taking immense pride in its tolerance, asserting it as an integral part of Georgian culture.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze emphasised that robust legal guarantees were in place to protect human rights, including those of minorities, addressing conditions set by European bureaucracy.

“We are proud of our tolerance - this is an integral part of Georgian culture. At the legislative level, we have created robust guarantees in all directions, including for those minorities concerning whom European bureaucracy sets certain conditions. Human rights are strictly protected in our country”, the PM said.

Kobakhidze drew a stark contrast with the previous UNM Government, which he described as a “bloody and severe regime”, during which he claimed minority rights were “especially violated and infringed upon”.

He specifically mentioned the widespread practice of covert recordings and various forms of infringement on private life, primarily for blackmail purposes, which he stated ceased after 2012.

“The only thing we oppose is harmful propaganda. Our European partners may have certain criticisms on this matter, but we believe Georgian society must be protected from the kind of harmful propaganda that is now widespread across the world. It is our duty to defend our society from it”, Kobakhidze concluded.