Advocacy Group Slams MP for Hate Speech
Public Movement Multinational Georgia – an NGO – said on April 14 that remarks made by MP Beso Jugeli were a ?manifestation of fascism.?
Jugeli had been defending a new tax scheme which many fear will force residents of Tbilisi’s Old Town to sell up.
Allaying such fears, he said that the proposal ?is not directed against Georgians.?
?Mainly Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds and other nationalities live in these historic districts? There is no necessity for Mikirtich [an Armenian name] to always live in Sololaki [a district in the old part of Tbilisi] ,? Jugeli was quoted as saying in the daily 24 Saati (24 Hours) on April 12.
Public Movement Multinational Georgia said that these remarks were ?absolutely unacceptable and inadmissible for any civilized society.?
?We call on the leaders of the governing party to comment on the statement made by MP Jugeli and to take appropriate action,? the statement reads.
?We give Jugeli the opportunity to apologize on the very first working day ? Monday ? to the whole population of Georgia, and particularly those living in Tbilisi, whose historical traditions of friendship, brotherhood, tolerance and diversity he does not share,? the group said.
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