On 3 October 2024, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, signed a package of laws restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

This step marked the final stage in the adoption of controversial legislation that has caused significant resonance both within the country and on the international arena.

Let us recall that on 18 September 2024, the National LGBTI Consortium published an analytical article about the Georgian Parliament’s adoption of the law “On Family Values and Protection of Minors”. At that time, we warned about the potential consequences of this step for Georgia’s European integration aspirations and human rights in the country. Unfortunately, our fears have been realised, and the situation has continued to develop in a negative direction.

Timeline of Events:

16 September 2024: The USA imposes sanctions on representatives of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the pro-Russian group “Alt-Info” due to human rights violations. In particular, the sanctions concern the director of the Special Tasks Department of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zviad Kharazishvili, and his deputy, Mileri Lagazauri, as well as the leaders of “Alt-Info”, Zurab Makharadze and Konstantin Morgoshia. These individuals are accused of brutal repression against peaceful protesters and participation in homophobic pogroms.

17 September 2024: The Georgian Parliament adopts a package of bills restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the third and final reading. 84 MPs vote for the law, while the opposition boycotts the vote. The law prohibits same-sex marriages, adoption of children by same-sex couples, transgender transitions, as well as the dissemination of information that “popularises” same-sex relationships in educational institutions and media.

2 October 2024: The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, does not sign the bills, but also does not veto them. According to the Constitution of Georgia, in such a case, the laws must be signed by the Speaker of Parliament within 5 days.

3 October 2024: The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, signs the package of laws restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. In his statement, he calls these laws “protective of the most valuable things for humans – family and children”. Papuashvili also declares readiness for criticism from “some foreign partners”.

International Reaction:

The adoption of these laws has provoked sharp criticism from the international community. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that this legislation “further deviates the country from its path towards the EU”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the adopted law discriminatory and in violation of basic human rights.

The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe criticised the document restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in its conclusion. Experts and human rights defenders point out the similarity between the Georgian law and similar legislative acts adopted in Russia.

Consequences and Prospects:

The adoption of this legislation seriously jeopardises Georgia’s European integration aspirations. The country, which officially seeks to join the European Union, is demonstrating trends that contradict European values and principles.

These events confirm fears about the strengthening of Russian influence in the region. The Georgian law essentially replicates similar Russian laws already adopted on banning “LGBT propaganda”, indicating consistent attempts by Russia to export its model of restricting rights and freedoms.

For the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia, these laws mean further stigmatisation, discrimination, and restriction of basic human rights. The adoption of these laws is not just a legal formality, but a potential catalyst for profound social changes. They can become a tool for legitimising discrimination, creating an environment where prejudices gain the force of law.

The National LGBTI Consortium views these events through the prism of a broader geopolitical picture. We see this not only as a local problem for Georgia but as part of a systemic attack on democratic values in the region. Instead of calls and expressions of concern, we propose concrete steps:

• Creation of an international monitoring group to track the practical application of the new laws and their impact on the lives of the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia.
• Development of alternative bills jointly with Georgian activists and lawyers that would protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people within the framework of the country’s European integration course.
• Initiation of dialogue between different sectors of Georgian society to find consensus on issues of equality and non-discrimination.

The situation in Georgia is a litmus test for the entire region. It demonstrates how fragile democratic achievements can be and how quickly one can return to practices of restricting human rights. Our task is not just to observe, but to actively act, using all available tools of influence and cooperation.