TBILISI, Georgia — Thousands of people demonstrated in front of Georgia’s parliament on Sunday evening, demanding that the ex-Soviet country’s prime minister resign in the wake of the murder of a journalist who was attacked and battered by anti-LGBT demonstrators.
The Tbilisi March For Dignity was canceled by organizers when authorities failed to offer appropriate security assurances. Opponents of the march obstructed the capital’s major thoroughfare, branded journalists covering the demonstration as pro-LGBT propagandists, and pelted them with clubs and bottles.
The reason for his death remained unknown at the time.
Lashkarava’s death was termed as “a tragedy” by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and President Salome Zurabishvili.
Georgia, a conservative Black Sea nation, has a high level of animosity toward sexual minorities.
Garibashvili said the march was planned by “radical opposition” forces headed by exiled former President Mikheil Saakashvili. Zurabishvili denounced the violence, but Garibashvili claimed the march was organized by “radical opposition” forces led by exiled former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
A huge throng of protestors gathered in Tbilisi on Sunday, demanding that those responsible for the attack on journalists be punished and that Garibashvili resign. Some protestors accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of inciting violence by openly condemning the LGBT march.