WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 The Messenger P3

“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #125 (4929) MessengerWEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE US Ambassador Kelly Degnan 28 MEPs call on says Georgian Parliament can to defend suspend appointment of the Pride March

Supreme Court judges BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI all preparations be made to pro- tect the right of protesters to free- n a joint June 28 address com- dom of expression and peaceful Iing ahead of the Pride celebra- assembly.” tions slated for July 1-5 in capi- MEPs write that the last com- tal city, members of the ment of Irakli Kobakhidze, the European Parliament’s chairman of the ruling Georgian LGBTIQ+ Group are urging Dream party, when he said that Georgia to adhere to the dignity in his opinion, the march of dig- march and ensure that its obli- nity should not take place, stat- gations under the Association ing it is against universal hu- Agreement are met. man rights. The addressee of the letter, The signatories also noted which is signed by 28 MPs, is that Georgia has commitments the Minister of Internal Affairs, under European Convention on Vakhtang Gomelauri. Along Human Rights and the Associa- with Gomelauri, the addressees tion Agreement with the EU to are EU Ambassador Carl tackle discrimination against Hartzel and Joseph Borrell, women, LGBT persons, as well High Representative for Foreign as ethnic and religious minori- Affairs and Security Policy. ties. “We have seen how in pre- They write that Pride demon- vious years homophobic groups strations are a peaceful tool of have taken advantage of these political advocacy and one of the celebrations to build on their ways to materialize the univer- hatred and attack LGBTI peace- sal right to freedom of expression ful protesters. and peaceful assembly, and an MEPs also recalled a 2012 BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM country’s other international High Council of Justice should important step for LGBTQ ac- decision by the ECHR which partners have actively been have refrained from appointing tivists and community members recognised that Georgia’s failure S Ambassador to Georgia supporting Georgia’s improve- judges to the Supreme Court. to increase their visibility and to protect peaceful demonstra- reach out to the public. It is in tors amounted to a violation of Kelly Degnan has stated ments in the field of justice as However, it is indicated that U this context that they write to Article 3 (prohibition of inhu- that the Georgian Parliament it a necessary precondition for the draft law on appointment Gomelauri, asking “not only man or degrading treatment) has the power to suspend the the eventual EU and NATO to the Supreme Court should that the Pride be held in the taken in conjunction with Article appointment of the Supreme integration. Earlier this week, be submitted to the Parlia- name of peaceful assembly and Court judges and uphold the 310 Georgian judges issued a ment, which will take into freedom of expression, but that CONTINUED ON Page 3 EU-brokered April agreement joint letter condemning the account the conclusion of the between government and “politically motivated and Venice Commission published opposition. unhealthy processes” that in 2019, open voting in the “I am very pleased that the undermine Georgia’s judiciary. High Council of Justice and judges have commented that On June 17, the High the need to substantiate the they are ready to work with Council of Justice nominated latter’s nominations. everyone to improve the nine candidates for the Su- There should also be sub- judiciary. The US and interna- preme Court . In particular, stantial reform of the High tional partners have been Giorgi Gogiashvili, Gocha Council of Justice for transpar- helping Georgia for the last 25 Abuseridze, Levan Tevzadze, ency, integrity and credibility, years, because the rule of law, Ketevan Meskhishvili, Giorgi including appointments, an impartial judiciary is a Shavliashvili, Revaz Nadaraia, evaluations, promotions, prerequisite for NATO and EU Bidzina Sturua, Eka Zarnadze, transfers, measures and membership”, Ambassador Lasha Gochiashvili. complaints to the Venice Degnan said. According to the EU- Commission and the OSCE / According to the publication of the LGBTIQ+ Equality Kelly Degnan added that brokered agreement of April ODIHR and the ODIHR which Strategy, in particular its chapter 4 on “Leading the call both the United States and the 19, under the current rule, must be fully performed. for LGBTIQ+ equality around the world”, the EU must continue to strengthen its engagement in LGBTIQ+ issues.

Opinion & Analysis News in Brief Politics / Economics

What happens after Patriarchate urges UNICEF in Georgia: Pashinyan’s victory? government to stop Our priority is to have supporting Pride Week children return to their biological families

FULL STORY ON Page 2 FULL STORY ON Page 2 FULL STORY ON Page 3 P2 Opinion & Analysis The Messenger WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 What happens after Pashinyan’s victory?

BY MALKHAZ MATSABERIDZE weapons, which made it impos- sible to repel Azerbaijani drones, n June 20, Pashinyan won did not work either. It is also Othe early parliamentary important for Armenia to seek elections in Armenia. The ma- Western guarantees of security, jority of voters in Armenia reaf- which will irritate Russia. firmed their support for the The main task for Georgia in leader during whose rule Arme- the South Caucasus region re- nia suffered a heavy defeat in the mains unchanged - to maintain Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. good neighborly relations with However, this support has not Armenia and Azerbaijan. How- diminished the severity of the ever, the new geopolitical situa- failure, nor the promises made tion in the region after the 2020 earlier for the reforms to be car- war is not entirely clear. In the ried out. conditions of the increased influ- In the June 20 parliamentary ence of Russia and Turkey in the elections, Pashinyan’s Civic Pact South Caucasus, the activity of party won 71 seats and can form the West in the region is impor- a government on its own. The tant for Georgia. Georgian state and the opposi- Georgia welcomed the agree- tion also congratulated ment reached between Armenia Pashinyan on his victory. Ac- and Azerbaijan through the me- cording to the statements made diation of Georgia and the by the representatives of the op- United States, according to position, they were able to hold which Azerbaijan released 6 Ar- early elections in Armenia menian prisoners of war, and (which the opposition in Georgia Armenia handed over the maps has been demanding), in accor- of the mined fields to Azerbaijan. dance with democratic stan- make a unilateral compromise. tween Azerbaijan and Armenia. in protest of Turkey’s open as- Lithuanian Foreign Minister dards. In this sense, Armenia However, the existing reality Azerbaijani military units in the sistance to Azerbaijan during the Gabrielius Landsbergis said af- was considered the leader of the provides very little basis for such southern part of Armenia, in war. Armenia has also filed a ter a visit to the South Caucasus democratic process in the South a prediction. several places about 200 sq. km. lawsuit against Turkey at the that Russia’s influence in the Caucasus. We can name several factors: They occupied the territory and European Court of Human region was growing and that However, the defeated politi- 1. Armenia maintains part of declared that on their maps from Rights in Strasbourg, accusing more Europe was needed in the cal forces in Armenia have their Nagorno-Karabakh after the the Soviet period it was the ter- it of sending Syrian mercenar- South Caucasus. He said that if opinion regarding the quality of 2020 war - about 2,500 square ritory of Azerbaijan. Pashinyan ies during the war in Azerbaijan Europe does not return to the democracy of the elections. For kilometers. The small Armenian immediately asked for Putin’s and of human rights abuses in South Caucasus, there may not example, the Kocharyan bloc population remains there thanks help and set up a branch of a Nagorno-Karabakh. be a place to return soon. Hu- ‘Armenia’, which took second to Russian peacekeepers. Their Russian military base in south- 4. Pashinyan promises the manitarian aid, support for re- place, does not recognize the elec- departure also means the depar- ern Armenia (Syunik). Armenian society a wide range forms, election monitoring, me- tion results. ture of the Armenian population. 3. After the war in 2020, the of reforms, but he will need to diation - such should be the Eu- After Pashinyan’s victory, Ilham Aliyev is no longer talk- Azerbaijan-Turkey union is take urgent measures to restore ropean soft power in the region. many predictions are made ing about any status that the deepening and from the position the country’s defense capabili- The European Union is already about his future policies. Accord- Armenian population of of the winner, Armenia is de- ties. Today, Armenia’s security fulfilling this mission in relation ing to the most ‘pink’ forecasts, Nagorno-Karabakh will have in manded to open a transport cor- depends essentially on Russia’s to Georgia. However, despite the the Nagorno-Karabakh problem Azerbaijan. Will the Armenian ridor, which will connect military presence. But Armenia agreement reached through can be considered solved and now society reconcile with the final Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan seems to be disappointed by Rus- Charles Michel, there are seri- nothing will hinder the develop- loss of Nagorno-Karabakh? Will and Turkey with free movement sia. Russia was actively arming ous differences and controversies ment of Armenia’s cooperation it forgive Pashinyan? on the territory of Armenia. At Azerbaijan and during the war, among Georgian political forces with Turkey and Azerbaijan. 2. After the Karabakh war, a the same time, Armenia main- Armenia was not provided the over its implementation. For this, Pashinyan will also serious border conflict arose be- tains a ban on Turkish products assistance it expected. Russian

statement, they called on MEPs On June 28, 28 MEPs issued “At this stage, direct flights operated to Europe and 42 to News in Brief and embassies to refrain from a statement calling on the Min- from Kutaisi to Europe will be Central Asia. WizzAir as well as supporting and encouraging ister of Internal Affairs and the available in 14 destinations in 9 FLYARYSTAN plans to gradu- Tbilisi Pride. Government of Georgia to effec- countries. In July, 153 direct ally increase both directions and In addition, the Patriarchate tively and properly protect the flights will be operated from frequencies during summer,” PREPARED BY makes misinformation and dis- participants of the Tbilisi Pride, Kutaisi International Airport. Of the ministry said. THE MESSENGER STAFF criminatory assessments of the to ensure the universal right to these, 111 direct flights will be LGBT community and their ac- freedom of expression and peace- Patriarchate urges tivities in the statement. ful assembly. government to stop “The organizers of the planned supporting Pride Week Pride are propagating a non-tra- WizzAir to resume ditional way of life under the operating in Kutaisi In connection with Pride guise of protecting human Week, the Patriarchate calls on rights; It contains signs of provo- According to the Ministry of the authorities to ‘avoid destabi- cation and conflicts with socially Economy, Wizz Air will resume lizing the country’ and ‘inevi- recognized moral norms and flights to Milan, Prague, Ath- table stir. In the homophobic aims to legalize grave sin. [...] ens, Thessaloniki, Larnaca and We appeal to the 30 members Memmingen during the sum- of the European Parliament’s mer navigation season. LGBTQ+ working group and the According to them, flights Weather heads of embassies accredited in until the end of the season will Georgia to refrain from support- be performed once a week. Air- ing and encouraging Tbilisi Wednesday, June 30 line tickets are already available Pride.” on the company’s website. Day Mostly Cloudy High: 35°C published by Nino Metreveli Night Partly Cloudy The Messenger welcomes your therefore, the opinions Commercial Director contributions. If you are expressed in some articles do Low: 21°C The Messenger 43, Chovelidze st., Tbilisi, interested in submitting an not necessarily coincide with Mariam Mchedlidze article or news item please those of the newspaper. We Thursday, July 1 0108, Georgia Editor-in-Chief Founded by Prof. contact. take no responsibility for any Zaza Gachechiladze All contributions should be claims made in advertisments. Day Partly Cloudy Natalia Kochiashvili Tamar Gachechiladze submitted by e-mail. Executive Editor High: 35°C Publisher The Messenger Georgia’s The Messenger preserves the Night Mostly Cloudy Mob.:+995 599 565621; +995 577 760000 English language daily is an style of a source written in E-mail:[email protected] Khatuna Gogichaishvili independent newspaper, and, English where possible. Low: 22°C http://www.messenger.com.ge/ Layout Designer, Photographer WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 The Messenger Politics / Economics P3 Exchange Rates: US Dollar - 3.1603; Euro - 3.7608; GBP - 4.3754; 100 Russian Ruble - 4.3537; Swiss Franc - 3.4306 UNICEF in Georgia: Our priority is to have children return to their biological families

BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM

epresentative of the United RNations Children’s Fund in Georgia, Amy Clancy has an- nounced that the organization’s main priority is reintegration of children back to their biological families, and if that is not pos- sible, they should be transferred to the alternative forms of care, such as foster families. “When it comes to the small family homes, this should be our last resort, and can only be used as a temporary measure in or- der to have children finally re- turn to their homes. It is also very important that children have access to a proper upbring- ing. UNICEF is ready to provide the relevant assistance in order to prevent children from being separated from their families”, Clancy said. On Monday, the Public De- fender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria was admitted to the Patriarchate’s Ninotsminda Archbishop Iakob, and the law- rently, there are 15 children in of the children should now be calated after the repeated re- Boarding School for the first time yer of the Georgian Orthodox the boarding school, while 20 relocated to the alternative care ports of the abuse against chil- since 2018, following the accu- Church, Edisher Karchava. have already left per the decision facilities as they now have an dren residing there and the in- sations of physical and sexual Lomjaroa was allowed to Board- of the court and have been sent opportunity to ‘express their will ability of social workers and rep- abuse at the facility. The Om- ing School after she met with back to their families or placed freely’. resentatives of the budsman was accompanied by Archbishop Iakob on June 17. in family-type care facilities. The The scandal around Ombudsman’s office to enter the the new head of the facility, According to Lomjaria, cur- Public Defender believes that all Ninotsminda orphanage has es- facility for monitoring.

on one side and on the other, be very good,” he said. businessman known for his ho- 28 MEPs call on however, he says that freedom Recall that In 2019, LGBTIQ+ mophobic sentiments and of expression is protected in the Pride Week was planned for the founder of ERI, said that Tbilisi country and one wouldn’t be able first time in Tbilisi, which was was forming ‘self-organized Georgia to defend to bring a single case to prove supposed to be crowned with a groups’ against Pride and its otherwise. ‘march of honor’ on any street supporters. Against the back- Aleko Elisashvili, a former in the city. The organizers im- ground of lack of guarantees, the Pride March Tbilisi mayoral candidate and a mediately had a communication Tbilisi Pride activists held a par- member of the Georgian parlia- with the Ministry of Internal tisan march in front of the Min- CONTINUED FROM Page 1 the Ministry of Internal Affairs ment, is calling on LGBTQ hu- Affairs, which, as they said, first istry of Internal Affairs building. to take preventive steps to en- man rights activists to restrain advised the activists to march 2 years later, the church has 14 (prohibition of discrimina- sure that all manifestations of from holding March. “Why is indoors, and then could not guar- addressed Georgian officials with tion). The case pertained to a violence during the Tbilisi Pride this pride being held, which has antee their safety at all. the same request and it is un- peaceful demonstration in cel- March are insured and all citi- no result other than hatred and At the same time, the Ortho- known whether the organizers ebration of the International Day zens can express their position a revival of pro-Russian forces? dox Church called on the au- will be able to hold the Pride Against Homophobia, Biphobia, peacefully. I just do not understand it ... if thorities not to allow a parade safely. Transphobia and Interphobia The Charles Michel Michel they restrain themselves, it will in Tbilisi. Levan Vasadze, a and applicants complained that Reform Group invites the Min- the police authorities had failed ister of Internal Affairs to the to protect them from violent Parliament to listen to counter-protesters and to inves- Gomelauri explain how the state tigate the incident, namely the intends to ensure the security of discriminatory motive behind it. Tbilisi Pride Week. Parliamentarians noted that US Ambassador to Georgia since then Georgia has invested Kelly Degnan told Tbilisi Pride in capacity-building training to Week that Georgia has been police officers on hate crime and fighting for human rights for hate-speech in partnership for years, and it is unfortunate that instance with the CoE, which some people want to use violence has led no doubt to their im- to violate fundamental human proved awareness, knowledge rights, such as the right to free and capacity. “We are certain assembly and expression. that these trainings will bear According to her, in a demo- results in providing the neces- cratic country, people have the sary support to the upcoming right to express their will. “All Pride events,” the letter reads, this creates a serious problem asking the EU Delegation in for law enforcement agencies, Georgia to follow up on the ele- which have an obligation to pro- ments raised above. tect people, the right to free as- Georgian far-right, pro-Rus- sembly, to express their opin- sian, violent and homophobic ions. In a democracy, people have groups in Georgia , and those a fundamental right to express affiliated with the newly founded their will,” Degnan said. ultraconservative movement According to Tbilisi Mayor ERI, have announced plans to and gen-sec of , mobilize in parallel with the or- Kakha Kaladze, holding pride ganizers of the Pride and hold a week is not appropriate, because counter-rally during the July 5. there are specific people, specific Tbilisi Pride events are planned for July 1-5, including a screening of a documentary, The Public Defender calls on groups who can misuse it, both Pride Festival and March of Honor.