SAAKASHVILI URGED TO RESPOND TO MP’S RACIAL SLUR
Civil Georgia, Georgia
April 25 2007
Public Movement Multinational Georgia and 15 other human rights
watchdogs sent an open letter to Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili and Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze calling for
an appropriate response to MP Beso Jugeli’s disparaging comments on
ethnic minorities living in Georgia.
Two weeks ago Jugeli, a memeber of the National Movement, said, while
defending a new tax scheme for residents of Tbilisi’s Old Town that
the proposal "is not directed against Georgians."
"Mainly Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds and other nationalities live
in these historic districts… There is no necessity for Mikirtich
[an Armenian name] to always live in Sololaki [a district in the old
part of Tbilisi]", Jugeli was quoted as saying in the daily 24 Saati
(24 Hours) on April 12.
Public Movement Multinational Georgia demanded an immediate apology,
but none was forthcoming from the MP.
"This statement insults Tbilisi and Tbilisites, the historical
traditions of friendship, brotherhood, tolerance and diversity. We ask
you to express your position …and take relevant measures… Today
you are responsible for the stability and unity of Georgian society.
We hope that your decision will not be delayed and it will help
Georgia avoid the threat of fascism," the open letter reads.
The president, however, has already commented on the incident.
Speaking with the winners of the National Academic Olympiad on April
18, President Saakashvili said that "everyone’s traditions and ethnic
background are our wealth."
"If any foolish person, even in politics, thinks that this is Georgia’s
weakness, he is bitterly mistaken," the president said.