# 2023 attack on Tbilisi Pride

The 2023 attack on Tbilisi Pride (Georgian: 2023 წლის თავდასხმა თბილისის პრაიდზე) was a violent counter-demonstration and protest held by far-right, nationalist and ultranationalist groups against Tbilisi Pride, a LGBT festival in Tbilisi, Georgia. Tbilisi Pride started their week-long series of events on July 1, with plans to hold their "March for Dignity" on July 8 at 12 pm at Lisi Lake. Many Far-right, Nationalist, Ultranationalist and Fascist groups posted on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook that a counter-demonstration was planned against the pride event, violent threats were made against the pride event and the planners before the event took place.
On July 8, protesters gathered in Saburtalo District in Tbilisi at 1pm to block roads and march to Lisi Lake. They passed through Nutsubidze Plato II, III, and IV micro districts. Police forces met them with fences and barbed wire. The protesters clashed with police forces, which resulted in several arrests of anti-LGBT and far-right demonstrators. The far-right groups broke barricades and entered the festival venue. Deputy interior minister Alexander Darakhvelidze stated that no one was harmed during the incident, and that the police evacuated the organizers of pride parade from Lisi lake by bus. Tbilisi Pride announced the parade was cancelled due to the danger of anti-LGBT protesters.

## Background and planning

In June, the Tbilisi Pride organisation started planning a pride festival and parade which was to be held in and around Lisi Lake and its park. Several announcements were posted on July 7 on Tbilisi Pride's social media platforms like Twitter Instagram and Facebook. It was announced that kids would also be allowed to attend the festival. Many right-wing groups (especially on Instagram) made announcements that thousands of people who were against the festival would show up near Nutsubidze Plato and would march and stop the festival at Lisi lake. They said that propagandistic parades undermine Georgia's traditions and its Christian faith and should not be allowed to be held. Many local and national TV channels were reporting on the situation.

## The march, July 8

On July 8, at approximately 1pm protesters gathered at the southern sides roads Saburtalo District in Tbilisi and blocked the roads, some other smaller groups gathered in ahead at the Nutsubidze Plato II micro district where the main road which leads to Lisi Lake is located. The march to Lisi lake began soon after at 1:30 and passed through Nutsubidze Plato II, III and IV micro districts. The anti-LGBT protesters and demonstrators reached near Lisi lake where police forces met them with fences and barbed wire which were placed to keep the protesters out of the pride parade held in the park beside Lisi lake. The protesters clashed against the police forces who were wearing masks, Bulletproof vests and armed with Batons and Semi-automatic rifles.

## Result

According to deputy interior minister Alexander Darakhvelidze, "Nobody was harmed during the incident and police are now taking measures to stabilise the situation". The attendees and paraders were safely evacuated from Lisi lake by bus, soon after, Tbilisi Pride announced on social media platforms that the parade was cancelled due to the danger of anti-LGBT protesters stating: "We were compelled to cancel the Pride Fest and evacuate the Fest territory. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia once again neglected to protect us from violent far-right groups and allowed the mobs to prevent us from exercising our freedom of expression & assembly even in private settings". The clashes and protests ended up not harming anyone but caused several arrests of violent anti-LGBT and far right demonstrators who brawled with police and broke the barricades.