The approval of an anachronistic law was carried out by Agriculturelimiting your rights LGBT+ community. The law “on family values” is similar to the one in force in Russia.
Deputies from the ruling Georgian Dream party were in favor of the law. The opposition boycotted the vote denouncing the government’s ultraconservative and anti-Western turn.
A total of 84 MPs voted in favour of the law and 0 against. Their vote could increase tensions in Georgia as crucial parliamentary elections on 26 October approach.
What does the law say?
The new law bans “propaganda of same-sex and incestuous relationships” in educational institutions and television broadcasts, as well as “meetings and demonstrations that promote same-sex relationships.”
The law “violates the fundamental rights of Georgians and risks reinforcing stigmatization and discrimination against a segment of the population,” the European Union complained.
In Russia, a similar law banning “LGBTQ propaganda” was passed about ten years ago and has since been expanded after Moscow added the “international LGBTQ movement” to its list of “terrorist and extremist” organizations.
The Georgian Dream party has been accused of leaning increasingly towards Moscow despite Russia’s 2008 war in the country, and of taking inspiration from Russia’s repressive laws.
“foreign influence”
Mass protests have been held in Georgia in recent months against the “foreign influence” law, a copy of the Russian “foreign agents” law, which has been used to suppress any dissenting voice in Russia. The law has also been heavily criticized by the West. The Georgian opposition accuses the government of seeking rapprochement with Moscow and jeopardizing the country’s prospects of joining the European Union.
Georgia was granted candidate status for EU membership in December 2023, but negotiations have not yet begun. Georgia also plans to join NATO.
Brussels decided before the summer to de facto halt the accession process pending a political change in Tbilisi.
The Georgian Dream party accuses the West of undermining “traditional values,” a scheme routinely used by Vladimir Putin.
Sources: AMPE, AFP
