Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has stated that everyone must learn to express dissenting opinions acceptably, without resorting to insults.

Kaladze made these remarks to journalists in response to a question regarding the operations of the newly established Department for Combating Hate Speech.

“In general, I am opposed to any form of abuse. Whether it is verbal or physical abuse, it is categorically unacceptable. We must learn how to listen to differing views and to criticism. Many people mistakenly believe that verbal abuse constitutes criticism. This, of course, is not the case. Everyone must mind their manners, and when they hold a dissenting opinion, they should express it in a civilised manner, entirely free from insults,” Kakha Kaladze stated.

For context, the newly established Department for Combating Hate Speech, under the Human Rights Protection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, commenced its operations on June 1. According to the Ministry, the Anti-Hate Speech Division’s primary role will be to monitor and proactively detect public statements that degrade or insult human dignity, or contain hate speech, provided they meet the criteria for an administrative offence under Georgian law.