Tbilisi, DFWatch – The European Court of Human Rights ruling in the case Identoba and others vs Georgia can be considered a landmark decision, as it stated that hate crimes, committed against individuals based on their sexual orientation is a violation of the European Convention on Human rights.
Minorities
LGBT* community in Georgia has bigger concerns than same sex marriages
TBILISI, DFWatch–Same sex marriage legislation in the U.S. is a landmark decision, but LGBT* people in Georgia have bigger problems than not being allowed to get married.
On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriages country wide
Georgian parliamentarian criticizes U.S. Supreme Court same-sex ruling
TBILISI, DFWatch–The deputy speaker of the Georgian parliament, Manana Kobakhidze, is criticized for recent remarks about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage.
“Even if we are left all alone on earth, if every one of our friends or partners abandons us, I will not
U.S. State Dep criticizes Georgia for failure to protect gays
TBILISI, DFWatch -The U.S. State Department criticizes Georgia in a new report about human rights published on Friday. Among a whole a number of problems highlighted in the report, it pays particular attention to the violation of the rights of gays and other sexual minorities.
The Sayat Nova Project: Music Defying Borders in the Caucasus
A group of ethnomusicologists known as the Sayat Nova Project has been documenting the musical heritage of the South Caucasus, trying to de-emphasise national divisions, explore the shared heritage, and pay attention to the underrepresented forms of musical expression.
Yazidi temple, third in the world, opened in Tbilisi
Tbilisi, DFWatch – on Tuesday, Yazidis celebrated the opening of their first temple and a cultural center in Tbilisi.
More than 2000 guests attended the opening ceremony of the temple in uptown Varketili district, built on the donation by the state.
Batsbi: A Silent Death of a Minority Language
The Batsbi language, a minority language related to Chechen, has been driven to the brink of extinction. Traditionally spoken in Zemo Alvani, Akhmeta Region, Kakheti, it has already lost its role as a community language and without institutional support it continues to decline at a rapid pace.
Javakheti people excited over year-long visa-free stay comeback
Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenians applaud the comeback of the year-long visa-free stay permit in Georgia, as those who hold Armenian or Russian passport no longer need a residency permit to stay in the country.
As DFWatch has reported
Zezvaoba – a traditional horse race between Kists and Georgians
ALVANI, DFWatch–The last Sunday of May is a day of celebration in the Tush villages Kvemo Alvani and Zemo Alvani in Kakheti.
Zezvaoba is the festival to honour the warrior Zezva Gaprindauli, who lead the Tush alongside the Georgian army against Persians at the Bakhtrioni