“Since the announcement of the establishment of the Department for Combating Hate Speech, we have observed the reactions of radical groups and individuals for whom hatred and hate speech have become a daily norm,” stated MP Rati Ionatamishvili, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Georgian Parliament.

According to Ionatamishvili, those who resort to hate speech, in reality, tend to favour hatred and violence, often rejecting the democratic principles and values upon which our society is built.

“It is our obligation to cleanse the Georgian political landscape of hate speech. I am confident that the department will succeed in this endeavour, as the future of our generations and the development of democratic values depend on it,” he added.

For context, the newly established division dedicated to combating hate speech within the Ministry of Internal Affairs has become fully operational today.