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Day: April 9, 2024
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On April 9, the United Nations in Georgia issued a statement expressing “profound concern” over the re-tabling of the Foreign Agents Law by the ruling Georgian Dream, and “regret” over the abolition of the mandatory gender quotas for the political parties in electoral lists.
“Noting Georgia’s current membership of the UN Human Rights Council,” the UN urges Georgia to withdraw the draft law on foreign agents and calls on the country to conduct “broad, inclusive, and meaningful consultations with a wide range of stakeholders on relations between the state and civil society.”
Recalling its statement when the Russian law was first introduced last year, the UN in Georgia stresses that the law will impede the work of the civil society and media and their essential contributions to Georgian democracy and society.
The UN recognizes the CSO’s contribution to helping the most vulnerable groups and warns that “stigmatizing their work risks leaving persons with disabilities, internally displaced, minorities, older persons, women, youth and children, survivors of domestic violence and other people in need without effective assistance and support.” The United Nations in Georgia also recalls that “the draft law falls short of a number of Georgia’s international obligations.”
As for the abolition of the mandatory gender quotas, the UN in Georgia argues that this “temporary measure” has long been recommended to Georgia “to compensate for women’s systemic exclusion from political decision-making” and its abolition is “a step back for gender equality.”
“We urge the Georgian authorities to take all the necessary steps to avoid actions that run counter to Georgia’s international obligations and that risk having a chilling effect on Georgian democracy,” the UN in Georgia statement concludes.
Today, Georgia marks the 35th anniversary of the brutal suppression of pro-independence protests in Tbilisi by the Soviet army on 9 April 1989, which left 21 dead and hundreds injured by poison gas used by Soviet troops and beatings with sappers’ spades. Most of the victims were women.
In 1991, on the same day, following the defeat of the Communist Party by the pro-independence coalition in the polls in 1990, and the subsequent referendum on independence in March 1991, the Georgian parliament announced the restoration of Georgia’s independence.
Civil.ge has collected statements from international partners on the anniversary of April 9.
EU Delegation in Georgia: “Georgia paid a high price on 9 April 1989 while being liberated from the Soviet rule. Many Georgians sacrificed their lives for independence. On this day, we honor this legacy and pay respect to the lives lost for Georgia’s freedom.”
US Embassy in Georgia: “On April 9, we remember the 21 people who were killed and hundreds injured by the hands of the Soviet army while demanding freedom through a peaceful demonstration. We will honor the memory of those who did not live to see the freedom and independence for which they gave their lives. On days like these, we feel most strongly why our common, highest American and Georgian values bind us so closely: independence, freedom, and democracy.”
French Embassy in Georgia: “France stands by Georgia and the Georgian people on this Day of National Unity, which marks the restoration of independence proclaimed in 1918 and the tragic and bloody repression of anti-Soviet demonstrators in 1989. France supports Georgia’s sovereignty and integrity. It stands by the Georgians in the realization of their democratic and European aspirations.”
Peter Fischer, Ambassador of Germany to Georgia: “Today we commemorate the Georgians who fought and suffered for freedom, democracy and independence. It happened half a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall. So you fought …like we did in Germany. Freedom, democracy, and independence are ongoing commitments for us all.”
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania: “On the Day of National Unity of Georgia, we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who stood up against the soviet terror in 1989 and restored Georgian independence in 1991. Today, Lithuania firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
More to follow…
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On April 9, the United Nations in Georgia issued a statement expressing “profound concern” over the re-tabling of the Foreign Agents Law by the ruling Georgian Dream, and “regret” over the abolition of the mandatory gender quotas for the political parties in electoral lists.
“Noting Georgia’s current membership of the UN Human Rights Council,” the UN urges Georgia to withdraw the draft law on foreign agents and calls on the country to conduct “broad, inclusive, and meaningful consultations with a wide range of stakeholders on relations between the state and civil society.”
Recalling its statement when the Russian law was first introduced last year, the UN in Georgia stresses that the law will impede the work of the civil society and media and their essential contributions to Georgian democracy and society.
The UN recognizes the CSO’s contribution to helping the most vulnerable groups and warns that “stigmatizing their work risks leaving persons with disabilities, internally displaced, minorities, older persons, women, youth and children, survivors of domestic violence and other people in need without effective assistance and support.” The United Nations in Georgia also recalls that “the draft law falls short of a number of Georgia’s international obligations.”
As for the abolition of the mandatory gender quotas, the UN in Georgia argues that this “temporary measure” has long been recommended to Georgia “to compensate for women’s systemic exclusion from political decision-making” and its abolition is “a step back for gender equality.”
“We urge the Georgian authorities to take all the necessary steps to avoid actions that run counter to Georgia’s international obligations and that risk having a chilling effect on Georgian democracy,” the UN in Georgia statement concludes.
Today, Georgia marks the 35th anniversary of the brutal suppression of pro-independence protests in Tbilisi by the Soviet army on 9 April 1989, which left 21 dead and hundreds injured by poison gas used by Soviet troops and beatings with sappers’ spades. Most of the victims were women.
In 1991, on the same day, following the defeat of the Communist Party by the pro-independence coalition in the polls in 1990, and the subsequent referendum on independence in March 1991, the Georgian parliament announced the restoration of Georgia’s independence.
Civil.ge has collected statements from international partners on the anniversary of April 9.
EU Delegation in Georgia: “Georgia paid a high price on 9 April 1989 while being liberated from the Soviet rule. Many Georgians sacrificed their lives for independence. On this day, we honor this legacy and pay respect to the lives lost for Georgia’s freedom.”
US Embassy in Georgia: “On April 9, we remember the 21 people who were killed and hundreds injured by the hands of the Soviet army while demanding freedom through a peaceful demonstration. We will honor the memory of those who did not live to see the freedom and independence for which they gave their lives. On days like these, we feel most strongly why our common, highest American and Georgian values bind us so closely: independence, freedom, and democracy.”
French Embassy in Georgia: “France stands by Georgia and the Georgian people on this Day of National Unity, which marks the restoration of independence proclaimed in 1918 and the tragic and bloody repression of anti-Soviet demonstrators in 1989. France supports Georgia’s sovereignty and integrity. It stands by the Georgians in the realization of their democratic and European aspirations.”
Peter Fischer, Ambassador of Germany to Georgia: “Today we commemorate the Georgians who fought and suffered for freedom, democracy and independence. It happened half a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall. So you fought …like we did in Germany. Freedom, democracy, and independence are ongoing commitments for us all.”
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania: “On the Day of National Unity of Georgia, we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who stood up against the soviet terror in 1989 and restored Georgian independence in 1991. Today, Lithuania firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
More to follow…
Also Read: