Georgia pride march cancelled after LGBT office ransacked and rainbow flags destroyed
Key points:
Video footage showed protesters scaling a building and tearing down rainbow flags
Journalists were targeted in the violence
A tourist was reportedly stabbed for wearing an earring
Activists launched five days of LGBT Pride celebrations last Thursday and had planned a "March for Dignity" on Monday in central Tbilisi, shrugging off criticism from the church and conservatives who said the event had no place in Georgia.
However, the march plan was disrupted by counter-protesters before it could begin.
Video footage posted by LGBT activists showed men scaling their building to reach their balcony, where they tore down rainbow flags and were seen entering the office of Tbilisi Pride.
Other footage showed a journalist with a bloodied mouth and nose, and a man on a scooter driving at journalists in the street.
After the pride march was called off, some anti-march demonstrators staged a prayer outside a church facing the parliament building, while others danced to traditional music in celebration.
Men climbed into the Tbilisi Pride office, ransacking it and tearing up rainbow flags.
LGBT campaigners in Georgia have called off a pride march after violent groups opposed to the event stormed and ransacked their office in the capital Tbilisi.
LGBT campaigners in Georgia have called off a pride march after violent groups opposed to the event stormed and ransacked their office in the capital Tbilisi.
Key points:
Video footage showed protesters scaling a building and tearing down rainbow flags
Journalists were targeted in the violence
A tourist was reportedly stabbed for wearing an earring
Activists launched five days of LGBT Pride celebrations last Thursday and had planned a "March for Dignity" on Monday in central Tbilisi, shrugging off criticism from the church and conservatives who said the event had no place in Georgia.
However, the march plan was disrupted by counter-protesters before it could begin.
Video footage posted by LGBT activists showed men scaling their building to reach their balcony, where they tore down rainbow flags and were seen entering the office of Tbilisi Pride.
Other footage showed a journalist with a bloodied mouth and nose, and a man on a scooter driving at journalists in the street.
After the pride march was called off, some anti-march demonstrators staged a prayer outside a church facing the parliament building, while others danced to traditional music in celebration.
LGBT activists say the anti-pride march protesters are far-right extremists.(Reuters: Irakli Gedenidze)
Police said more than 50 journalists had been targeted in the violence.
Campaigners said some of their equipment had been broken in the attack.
"No words can explain my emotions and thoughts right now. This is my working space, my home, my family today. Left alone in the face of gross violence," LGBT activist Tamaz Sozashvili tweeted.
Media also reported that a tourist had been stabbed because he was allegedly wearing an earring.
The interior ministry, which said eight people were detained over the violence, had urged LGBT activists to abandon the march for security reasons.
It said in a statement that various groups were gathering and protesting, and that journalists had been targeted with violence.
"We once again publicly call on the participants of 'Tbilisi Pride' to refrain from the 'March of Dignity' … due to the scale of counter-manifestations planned by opposing groups," it said.
Police said more than 50 journalists had been targeted in the violence.
Campaigners said some of their equipment had been broken in the attack.
"No words can explain my emotions and thoughts right now. This is my working space, my home, my family today. Left alone in the face of gross violence," LGBT activist Tamaz Sozashvili tweeted.
Media also reported that a tourist had been stabbed because he was allegedly wearing an earring.
The interior ministry, which said eight people were detained over the violence, had urged LGBT activists to abandon the march for security reasons.
It said in a statement that various groups were gathering and protesting, and that journalists had been targeted with violence.
"We once again publicly call on the participants of 'Tbilisi Pride' to refrain from the 'March of Dignity' … due to the scale of counter-manifestations planned by opposing groups," it said.
People danced in front of Georgia's parliament building after the pride march was cancelled.
(Reuters: Irakli Gedenidze)
Several Western embassies in Georgia issued a joint statement condemning the attack and calling on authorities to ensure freedom of expression and assembly.
"Violence is simply unacceptable and cannot be excused," the statement said.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who visited one of the injured journalists, said the violence was a "violation of the core fabric of Georgia".
"What happened is not the Georgia I know," Ms Zourabichvili, who ran as an independent, wrote on Twitter.
"It's not the Georgia based on its core values of tolerance."
In the run-up, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said he viewed the march as "not reasonable", saying it risked causing public confrontation and that it was not acceptable to most Georgians, the Civil Georgia media outlet reported.
Rights campaigners condemned the violence and accused Mr Garibashvili of having emboldened hate groups.
"Violent far-right crowds supported by [the] Church & emboldened by [an] incredibly irresponsible statement of PM [Garibashvili] gathered in Tbilisi center to prevent Pride March, attacking journalists & breaking into Pride office," wrote Giorgi Gogia, who works for US-based Human Rights Watch.
VIDEO
Georgia pride march cancelled after LGBT office ransacked and rainbow flags destroyed - ABC News
Several Western embassies in Georgia issued a joint statement condemning the attack and calling on authorities to ensure freedom of expression and assembly.
"Violence is simply unacceptable and cannot be excused," the statement said.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who visited one of the injured journalists, said the violence was a "violation of the core fabric of Georgia".
"What happened is not the Georgia I know," Ms Zourabichvili, who ran as an independent, wrote on Twitter.
"It's not the Georgia based on its core values of tolerance."
In the run-up, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said he viewed the march as "not reasonable", saying it risked causing public confrontation and that it was not acceptable to most Georgians, the Civil Georgia media outlet reported.
Rights campaigners condemned the violence and accused Mr Garibashvili of having emboldened hate groups.
"Violent far-right crowds supported by [the] Church & emboldened by [an] incredibly irresponsible statement of PM [Garibashvili] gathered in Tbilisi center to prevent Pride March, attacking journalists & breaking into Pride office," wrote Giorgi Gogia, who works for US-based Human Rights Watch.
VIDEO
Georgia pride march cancelled after LGBT office ransacked and rainbow flags destroyed - ABC News
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