What was to be Tbilisi’s first Pride march has been cancelled for the second time after violent homophobic protests broke out in the city centre. On Monday afternoon, anti-Pride protesters stormed the offices of Tbilisi Pride and of the Shame Movement, a liberal activist group. Protesters also targeted journalists attempting to cover the day’s events, with at least 50 media workers sustaining injuries. A Polish tourist was also stabbed with eyewitnesses reportedly saying his attackers believed he was gay. Government critics have accused the authorities of encouraging the violence. The police presence remained light throughout the day despite attacks on journalists and others continuing into the evening. Several officials from the ruling Georgian Dream Party, including Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, made statements that shifted the blame onto Tbilisi Pride, they also accused — without evidence — the queer rights group of being controlled by the ‘radical opposition’. (…) The head of Tbilisi Pride, Giorgi Tabagari, later said he believed the State Security Services may have been assisting counter-protesters. Tabagari said that the group had privately changed the location of the march five times during the day but that anti-Pride protesters had arrived at the locations ahead of them every time. Far-right groups began to occupy the area near Rustaveli Metro Station and the Kashveti Church near the parliament building, both of which were included on the March of Dignity route, hours before the event was to take place.
via oc-media: Homophobic mob celebrates on Tbilisi streets after Pride march cancelled