Rights defenders call on Georgian authorities to investigate attacks on transgenders

Authorities are obliged to protect sexual minorities from manifestations of homophobia and investigate hate crimes, activists of the NGO “Movement for Equality” have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Miranda Pagava, a 23-year-old female transgender and an LGBT activist, was attacked by some stranger in Tbilisi in the morning on January 28. The woman complained that no one reacted to her calls for help. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) initiated an inquiry under Article 126 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (violence).

Today, Miranda Pagava feels well, but the authorities must create a mechanism to respond to homophobia-motivated crimes, activists of the NGO “Movement for Equality” told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

"Transgender women are the most vulnerable group in the society; they are often humiliated on the basis of their gender identity. We hope that the Georgian government will launch an effective policy on responding to hate crimes, including by creating an independent, efficient and human rights-based investigation mechanism," said Irina, a member of the above NGO.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.