OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK # 36, 24-30 NOVEMBER The following tendencies have been analogous to Russia; noted in the period of 24-30 November: ● Expressions of xenophobia were ● Hate speech and calls for violence noted against Ossetians and have been traditionally directed Abkhazs by a TV anchor (Kavkasia against the National Movement in TV), and against Armenians and the context of “restoration of jus- Russians by a respondent; tice”; ● Unfounded claims about threats in  Anti-Turkish sentiments were still Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo relevant, expressed by the Patriots’ Kartli were connected by a respon- Alliance members, media union dent to the EU grant program; also Obiektivi, internet portal to selling land to foreigners; Geworld.ge and other respondents. Besides the issues

of land ownership, speculations

on this topic concerned Continued on p. 2 representing Turkey as an occupier

RESPONSE 1 December INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Non-Governmental Organizations Call on Rustavi 2 TV Company to Discuss Hate speech 2 Discrimination against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Self-Regulatory Body Calls for violence 2

2-3 The Media Development Foundation (MDF), Turkophobia the Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), the Xenophobia 3-4 Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI), and Unfounded claims about threats 4 theHuman Rights Education and Monitoring

Center (EMC) have filed a complaint with the Unfounded claims about ethnic 5 self-regulatory body of Rustavi 2 TV com- identity pany, requiring that it consider violations of Homophobia 5-6 provisions of the Code of Conduct for Broadcasters in the program Nanuka’s Show Gender stereotypes 6 aired on 26 November, in which Jehovah’s Witnesses were discriminated.

Anti-western sentiments 6-9 Continued on p. 9 P. 2 MDF & GDI NO TO PHOBIA! #36

OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK

Beginning from p. 1

● Religious discrimination was mostly directed against the Jehovah’s Wit- nesses and connected to the decision by a Rustavi 2 TV show Nichieri partici- pant to change his belief;

● Homophobia was expressed by both journalists and respondents;

● Anti-Western sentiments were expressed by politicians, other respondents, and media representatives.

HATE SPEECH ASAVAL-DASAVALI, God, don’t let them live and burn them in 24-30 NOVEMBER the air!“

LALI ANTIA, former prisoner: „The time when they shot at Misha [Saakashvili] ASAVAL-DASAVALI, in Zugdidi… I wish they killed that pig bug 24-30 NOVEMBER then, would survive and the coun- DAVID TARKHAN- try would not be destroyed… ROBERT STURUA, director: "Judahs, ene- MOURAVI, Patriots’ mies of Georgians, surname-changed Alliance: “...we must This narrow-eyed Jehovah’s Witness untalented breed [participants of the Na- demand prosecution of Bokeria was a mortal enemy of Zurab tional Movement 15 November rally]! The this regime… Those who Zhvania! This guy is created for hate and day of your end has come!“ support the Turkish in- he will certainly be given what he deserves vasion in Adjara, they by the Almighty... still do it by their actions Everyone have taken CALL FOR VIOLENCE hold of the land, and Adjarians cannot do so GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER even today.“ ALEXANDER CHACHIA, political observer: “The people are almost ready to start lynching them, because the main promise of the Georgian Dream and its leader to restore justice has not been fulfilled.“ http://www.geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6333&lang=ge

TURKOPHOBIA OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT STUIO, OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT STUIO, 26 NOVEMBER 27 NOVEMBER

DAVID TARKHAN-MOURAVI, Patri- GIORGI MAGLAKELIDZE, Patriots’ ots’ Alliance: „This will be the rally when Alliance: „Events in Adjara demand great we must demand prosecution of this re- attention, especially the threats from Turkey, gime… Those who support the Turkish inva- both demographic and economic expansion sion in Adjara, they still do it by their ac- that is happening there.“ http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2460649 tions. It is very difficult situation in Adjara in general. Everyone have taken hold of the land, and Adjarians cannot do so even to- day.“ Continued on p. 3 http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461764 P.3

TURKOPHOBIA

OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT STUIO, atic territory, and about it they say that it is 27 NOVEMBER an “unplayrd card”. http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6327 BONDO MDZINARASHVILI, journalist: „...[The National Movement] has done eve- GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER rything for the Georgian city of Batumi and LERI OKROMELIDZE, Aspindza resi- Georgian region Adjara to become Turkish dent: „In the past there were Dagestani in- and to be threatened.“ vasions, now the Turkish one has started! http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2460644 http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6327

GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT STUIO, 25 NOVEMBER MERAB BLADADZE, an NGO represen- tative: „When an Turkish border guard SOSO ZAALISHVILI, anchor: „On the one comes to your border, sets dogs on you and hand there is Russia, and on the other Tur- steals cattle, and when this is an armed key, and there is serious aggression against group, this is horrible.“ Georgia from both, and there is nothing un- http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6327 clear for me in the fact that now the Abkhazs have made this agreement with Russia...“ http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2459131 OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT STUDIO, 27 NOVEMBER DAVI AKUBARDIA, GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER TV VIEWER: „Clearly, to press Russia anchor: „Antsukhelidze

about annexation, and applaud and hug overwhelmed with his EKA NASKIDASHVILI, journalist: Turkey, this would be absurd… Clearly, mind that rats there, Os- „Political observers think the hot region is when they see we are a stupid nation and setian rats...“ Adjara, where because of the Turks getting don’t worry about the Turks , they will take bolder the local people have a great problem, what falls into their hands...“ there are even ethnic conflicts noted already, http://www.myvideo.ge\/?video_id=2460655 but Samtskhe-Javakheti is not a less problem-

XENOPHOBIA

KAVKASIA, SPEKTRI, 24 NOVEMBER

DAVI AKUBARDIA, anchor: „...Antsukhelidze case – this is a triumph of phenomenal courage and mind, Antsukhelidze overwhelmed with his mind that rats there, Ossetian rats...“ http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2457550

KAVKASIA, SPEKTRI, 28 NOVEMBER

DAVID AKUBARDIA, anchor: „I met those Apsuas [Abkhazians] there. Forgive me, but I met boys and girls limited in their scale and view…

I guess society must create the people who would set correct orientation. Nobody does this and they have this energy of self-destruction.“ http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2460782

Continued on p. 4 MDF & GDI NO TO PHOBIA! #36 P.4

XENOPHOBIA KAVKASIA, SPEKTRI, 28 NOVEMBER

IRAKLI MACHAVARIANI, former head of the multilateral control commission: “...Armenia is playing the double game, and Armenians are sly people and this is a differ- ent thing...

Russia wants everything!.. They are idiots. This is a sick nation… They have maniacal tamptation with enlarging their territory.”

http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461052

UNFOUNDED CLAIMS ABOUT THREATS

GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER who plan this don’t consider that there is mostly Azeri population in Bolnisi, GELA KHUTSISHVILI, retired colo- Marneuli and Dmanisi.“ nel and former deputy commander of http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6327

the border forces : „Today Samtskhe- Javakheti is a dangerous region, because GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER there are separatist sentiments. A council of municipalities has been ALEXANDER CHACHIA, political created in Georgia, where are Bolnisi, observer: “Georgia that has lost territory Dmanisi, Marneuli and Ninotsminda; and does not have a lot of land generally and from the Armenian side – is still selling its lands to foreigners “EuroArmenia region”. Maybe the idea because of its government. And the is noble, they mean to expand Europe to people below the poverty line escape the east, but it is dangerous to start such abroad to get their bread, because they movement in this area. cannot afford to cultivate land.” http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6333 Grants from the European Commission have started to come in and they mean developing common projects for Kvemo Kartli and Armenia’s Alaverdi. Those

UNFOUNDED CLAIMS ABOUT ETHNIC IDENTITY

KVIRIS CHRONIKA, 24-30 NOVEMBER

GIORGI JIKIASHVILI, journalist: „Yes, Ivanishvili’s Georgia is shamed and humiliated, because Ter-Saakyan’s [Armenian surname] bloody butchers, instead of sitting in Gldani and Matrosovo [prisons], are comfortably in the Parliament and have the status of lawmakers!“

Continued on p. 5 P. 5

RELIGIOUS DISKCIMINATION

ASAVAL-DASAVALI, It seems the rumors about Bokeria being 24-30 NOVEMBER a member of the Jehovah’s sect are not that far from reality!" GEVORQ PETROSYAN, Nichieri TV show participant: „This is a sect [Jehovah’s Witnesses organization]. It NETGAZETI, 27 NOVEMBER does not matter if I continue to sing, I just wanted to show to the society that I died NANUKA ZHORZHOLIANI, journal- as a singer and as a person I got into a ist: "Are not the Jehovah’s Witnesses are sect.“ aggressive, lest they attack me”… "...Can you give me the word that Jehovah’s Witnesses won’t attack me here ", "...You PRIME TIME, 24 NOVEMBER did well to leave them", "...Jehovah’s Witnesses, are they brainwashed?", "...to GEVORQ PETROSYAN, Nichieri TV recruit [into Orthodox Christianity] is a show participant: „I got an opportunity wrong word, it is to convert", to say loudly that the sect in which I was "...I am very afraid lest they hypnotize [Jehovah’s Witnesses] is malicious.” me". http://www.netgazeti.ge/GE/105/News/38813/.htm

ASAVAL-DASAVALI, 24-30 NOVEMBER GEWORLD.GE, 26 NOVEMBER

„His Holi- JABA KHUBUA, journalist: "Dear DAVID MKHEIDZE, author: reader, just like Gevorq Petrosyan, be- ness is the Patriarch of Orthodox Georgi- cause of poverty and desperation, how ans, not of Jehovah heretics!“ many honest people slipped into the http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6335 Jehovah’s sect, in how many people this sect killed the talent, and took from them JABA KHUBUA, the opportunities to realize their journalist: "...how abilities!.. many honest people slipped into the Jeho- vah’s sect, in how HOMOPHOBIA many people this sect KVIRIS CHRONIKA, “Master” [a rapper, Pavliashvili’s son] killed the talent, and 24-30 NOVEMBER does not fight against USA or demand took from them the anyone’s persecution, he just says what opportunities to realize SHALVA NATELASHVILI, Labor the majority of society has to say, the their abilities!” „Historians will remember not that Party: [LGBT] propaganda must not exist, he [Bidzina Ivanishvili] built Trinity Ca- otherwise everyone can live as they thedral, but that he had anti- want. discrimination law adopted and held a gay parade, at least he did not hinder it. And EKA CHIKVAIDZE, journalist: If he will also be remembered for holding you think this way, why did not you go Kazantip.“ to Rustaveli in 17 May last year with a stool?” PRIME TIME, 24 NOVEMBER

SUIKO PAVLIASHVILI, former Min- Continued on p. 6 ister of Property Management: MDF & GDI NO TO PHOBIA! #36 P. 6

HOMOPHOBIA ASAVAL-DASAVALI, 24-30 NOVEMBER

GIORGI GIGAURI, journalist: „Our pseudo-human liberasts [combination of liberal and pederast] are trying to convince the citizens of Georgia in the following: that Arme- nia has a bad human-hating government and so Armenians, who trust their government, are human-hating!

And this just because they don’t like pederasts in Armenia and they don’t want gay parades!”

GENDER STEREOTYPES ASAVAL-DASAVALI, 24-30 NOVEMBER

NINO GODZIASHVILI, journalist: „What kind of woman is successful? They one who got lucky and has a good husband, or is she a magician? What can a member of the weak sex do, when she has not a man by her side?“

ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENTS

OBIEKTIVI, NIGT STUDIO, NATO. “We should join it, and let it be 26 NOVEMBER only and Mtskheta: - that is how they think. I want NATO, I want tech- DAVID TARKHAN-MOURAVI, Pa- nologies and military aid, but I want it NINO BUR- triots’ Alliance: „How can they with my country’s lands, not without JANADZE, Bur- [NATO] help us? They won’t even open the territories... And this is not going to that training centers were we are sup- janadze-United Oppo- happen." posed to train some rebels, and the situa- sition: “...but this does http://www.reportiori.ge/?menuid=3&id=46598 tion in Abkhazia will change tragically... not mean we must be ruled by Washington PIRVELI, 26 NOVEMBER America, Europe and Russia will make just like we used to be war between themselves at the Ukraini- NINO BURJANADZE, Burjanadze- ruled from Moscow ans’ expense, or they will in Georgia, United Opposition: „One thing is when during USSR.” and so far this has always ended tragi- exchange a great lot for the illusionary cally in Georgia... membership of NATO, another is rela- When empires fight each other, do they tions with the West... We must have lose anything? Did America lose any of good neighborly relations with the its states? No. Did Europe lose anything? West, but this does not mean we must No. Russia even got something. These be ruled by Washington just like we empires fight between themselves, coun- used to be ruled from Moscow during tries like Georgia disintegrate and then USSR. If Georgia is independent, it disappear from the map.“ http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461726 should not be ruled from either Wash- http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461768 ington, Brussels, Moscow, or any other

foreign capital ". REPORTIORI, 27 NOVEMBER http://pia.ge/show_news.php?id=28930&lang=geo

IRMA INASHVILI, Patriots’ Alliance: Continued on p. 7 „Some would exchange the lands for P. 7

ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENTS

PRIME TIME, may be written by Chinese, Christianity, so that they 24 NOVEMBER Germans, Nigerians, Ameri- take from the Georgian cans and others… We Geor- people the basis it has been KAKHKA TARGAMA- gians are a small people standing on until now.” DZE, former Minister of that can survive only be- http://geworld.ge/View.php?ArtId=6333

Internal Affairs: cause of morality and hon- “Misha’s American uncles esty... ASAVAL-DASAVALI, wanted war between Rus- 24-30 NOVEMBER sia and Georgia, and all They want to corrupt small this happened because I countries, but no country MIKHEIL TSAGARELI, did not let them do it... will witness corruption of astrologist: „Praise Europe Georgia! When a man min- – but why does it matter, has What happened was ister married another man in our economy recovered or wanted by American in- Germany and Chancellor our lands been returned to telligence services. The Angela Merkel congratu- us?“ Americans wanted Rus- lated him for the world to sians to recognize see, I said what right does OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT Abkhazia and Ossetia… Merkel now has to tell any- STUDIO, 25 NOVEMBER Misha followed instruc- thing about morals in her tions from these coun- country. A person that has TV VIEWER: „I am Russia tries.“ gone against God should supporter, and even of not speak about morals! For Putin, because of America’s me, the whole Europe has policy, this disgusting dou- become a place of immoral- OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT ble policy… These 25 years ity! I hate their parades.“ STUDIO, 28 NOVEMBER it has put us through the

hell, America and the West, PETRE MAMRADZE, GEWORLD.GE, now we must judge our- former head of the Gov- 26 NOVEMBER selves." „I http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2459138 ernment Chancellery: have said to American ALEXANDER CHA- OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT friends, political scientists CHIA, political observer STUDIO, 28 NOVEMBER and diplomats that Obama living in Moscow: „Violent does not criticize Putin be- attack against Georgian Or- „And now cause of Crimea too much, thodox Church started at the TV VIEWER: the West, some forces in the compared to how he criti- beginning of the Revolution West need to use us against cized him prior to the Sochi of Roses, when the doors of Russia, and cause some cri- Olympics because of LGBT the church in Gldani was ses, because of which they sexual minorities rights.“ broken by a truck by the http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461240 will sanction Russia and godless Nationals, and then some countries will get bil- the believers were brutally lions out of this, don’t you ASAVAL-DASAVALI, beaten. This violent strug- feel this is very harmful and 24-30 NOVEMBER gle, which is supported and even deadly for us.“ financed by the so called http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461245 GIVI SIKHARULIDZE, globalists, is still going on. actor: „Bold authorship They attack Georgian Patri- Continued on p. 8 based on immorality – it arch, fight against Orthodox MDF & GDI NO TO PHOBIA! #36 P.8

ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENTS

Beginning from p. 7 As to the plans to create this NATO train-

ing center here – this is very serious. Not KVIRIS CHRONIKA, just the Russian factor must be considered 24-30 NOVEMBER here, but also Iranian factor... Iran is more sovereign and independent that all MAMISA JAPARASHVILI, Iverians’ 28 countries of Europe.“ Union: „It is time for the whole system http://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=2461840

to change, enough of the government controlled by Soroses and Norlands, ASAVAL-DASAVALI, and I call on both Soros and Norland – 24-30 NOVEMBER get out of our country, let us Georgians rule our own country!“ ARNO KHIDIRBEGISHVILI, Saqin- form: „Always, when the present govern- ment says that NATO and EU are the KVIRIS CHRONIKA, choice of the Georgian people, not Geor- 24-30 NOVEMBER gian politicians, it loses its rating in the eyes of the Georgian society and gets NANA DEVDARIANI, Global Re- equalized with Saakashvili’s regime. The searches Center: „Let Norland seek hu- fact is the people cannot remember when manism in Unites States… Let him ask did they decide in favor of NATO and why did Bush allow torture of terrorist EU...“ prisoners, while all international laws prohibit torture !“

KVIRIS CHRONIKA, 24-30 NOVEMBER ASAVAL-DASAVALI, 24-30 NOVEMBER GELA ZEDELASHVILI, journalist: „So we signed this agreement CHIPASHVILI, political [Association] just to make our hard life observer: „These are the people who have even harder… turned Georgia in Western slave, colony over these 20 years, under instructions of Taking garlic in and out happens mutu- the Western politicians and together with ally it will be like two years ago, when them." Arabs or Iranians took all garlic from Georgia, then brought in Iranian and let us eat that trash... OBIEKTIVI, NIGHT STUDIO,

30 NOVEMBER Yes, don’t think sighing association

agreement is like eating lobio [bean], HAMLET CHIPASHVILI, political soon they will count even our forks and observer: „Nobody knows what these spoons, so that they have real data. If embassies are doing… Who will be they count asses of chicken and turkey, against this railroad? The USA are of soon they will count our fingers and course… toes. This is an obligation people?!“

Continued on p. 9 ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENTS

KVIRIS CHRONIKA, 24-30 NOVEMBER KVIRIS CHRONIKA, 24-30 NOVEMBER

GIORGI JIKIASHVILI, journalist: "Yes, in our LEVAN JAVAKHISHVILI, journalist: „This place a society with dignity would stand up and American ambassador Richard Norland pops up get rid of Usupashvili, who tells us they need 20 like Aunt Vasasi and puts his red nose into eve- more years to fully corrupt Georgia with the money of the dog-faced Soros "... rything. Norland diplomatically hinted that it would be best for the keys to be in the courts’ hands, saying it is so in America... Now, they KVIRIS CHRONIKA, 24-30 NOVEMBER illegally eavesdrop in the whole world, and do

GIORGI JIKIASHVILI, journalist: you believe that if American intelligence services „Unfortunately, the West now needs a clown like need so, they will not listen to their own citi- this [] in the Georgian govern- zens?“ ment.“

RESPONSE

Beginning from p. 1 of the Code in the contracts en- believe that the program tered into with independent stu- breached the principle of fair

dios whom they outsource pro- treatment (Article 21): “when a The authors of the complaint wel- grams in order to facilitate the respondent uses media for at- come the fact of Rustavi 2 man- efficient implementation of the tacking another person or group, agement apologizing for the inci- Code of Conduct and avoid such the presenter should not only dent in the program, which indi- incidents in future.” refrain from further inciting cates about an accountable ap- negative sentiments and uncon- proach of the company; however, Moreover, the complaint includes ditionally agreeing to respon- they note that “it is important to other violations of the Code of dent’s attitudes, but should chal- consider this case on the basis of Conduct: lenge him/her, especially when Code of Conduct for Broadcasters it concerns a vulnerable group within the self-regulation format and even more so, refers to a and to become fully aware of the “Apart from repeated references minor in this context.” company’s responsibility in order to Jehovah’s Witnesses in a nega-

to prevent such incidents in future tive light, the presenter of the pro- from being perceived as accidental gram expressed her personal atti- The non-governmental organiza- mistakes alone and something that tude in assessing the change of tions also ask Rustavi 2’s self- independent studios bear responsi- faith by a guest of the program - regulatory body for considering bility for.” which is a matter of individual the breaches of Articles 31, 32 choice - as a positive development and 33 of the Code of Conduct Since the requirements of the (‘I am afraid of them [Jehovah’s for Broadcasters, which regulate Code of Conduct for Broadcasters, Witnesses]… It is good that you issues of diversity, equality and according to Article 1.3 of the abandoned them’),” the com- tolerance and aim at preventing document, shall be observed by a plaint states noting that this is the media from building stereotypes broadcaster, not an outside entity violation of Article 17.2 of the and encouraging intolerance producing content for the broad- Code which sets forth require- towards people with different caster, the non-governmental or- ments for presenters of authored identities. ganizations recommend Rustavi 2 programs. TV company “to incorporate the obligation to observe requirements The authors of the complaint also

www.mdfgeorgia.ge 54 Ilia Chavchavadze ave. Tbilisi, Georgia, 0179 [email protected] MDF GDI www.gdi.ge 2 D. Gamrekeli st. Tbilisi, Georgia 0179 [email protected]