“I promise that in Georgia no one will be able to go to the Civil Registry and change — if someone is a woman, into a man, or if someone is a man, into a woman. This is my promise,” the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, told journalists.
According to the head of government, the Georgian authorities are being urged to repeal the law that prohibits same-sex marriage or partnership. At the same time, Irakli Kobakhidze declared that European bureaucrats are engaged in a “shameful attempt at blackmail.”
“As for our relations with EU bureaucrats, once again we tell everyone — let’s sit down and talk. The fact that they refuse to sit at the table is clear proof that they have nothing to say. They are not afraid, rather they are attempting shameful blackmail. And because of this attempt at shameful blackmail, they refuse to sit at the table. I promise you: in Georgia, no one will be able to go to the Civil Registry and change from a woman to a man or from a man to a woman. This is my promise.
This demand exists across all of Europe. They tell us that unless we repeal the law that prohibits, for example, changing the gender record, they will not grant us privileges. Likewise, unless we repeal the law that prohibits same-sex marriage or partnership. If this law changes nothing, then why are they demanding its repeal if it is supposedly useless? Do you not see the logic? They say: if I go to the Civil Registry, I must be able to register myself as a woman, or if you go, you must be able to register yourself as a man. They claim this violates human rights. This is shameful.
There are several countries still fighting this battle, and they are paying the price for it, including Hungary. Hungary’s funding was suspended for two specific reasons: the LGBT issue and the fact that it does not allow migrants into the country. This is the face of the ‘deep state’ and the European bureaucracy controlled by it today. We take responsibility for fully protecting our national interests. National interests mean safeguarding peace and stability in this country and ensuring its economic development.
They also tell us that we must repeal the ‘Transparency Law.’ The purpose of the ‘Transparency Law’ is to maintain peace and stability in the country. They say that if we do not repeal the ‘Transparency Law,’ they might punish us by revoking visa liberalization. The ‘Transparency Law’ prohibits nothing; the only requirement it places on NGOs is to publish an annual declaration. When you serve the interests of a foreign power, the only thing required of you is transparency,” said the Prime Minister.
Irakli Kobakhidze: I promise that in Georgia no one will be able to go to the Civil Registry and change herself from a woman into a man, or himself from a man into a woman
