The US Embassy in Georgia has criticized the creation of a new Interior Ministry unit tasked with combating so-called online hate speech. The statement was issued in response to a query from the Georgian service of Radio Liberty regarding the detention of journalist Vakho Sanaia.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated the country's Muslim community on Ramadan. This year, the holiday fell on March 20. However, due to the death of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia on March 17, the festivities in Georgia were canceled.
"We congratulate our Muslim citizens, albeit belatedly, but from the bottom of our hearts, on Ramadan Bayram and the holiday of the arrival of spring, Novruz Bayram. I express special gratitude to the Muslim community for their sincere sympathy, sharing in our common grief, and canceling celebratory events during these days. We will never forget this fraternal support," said Irakli Kobakhidze.
Kavelashvili also thanked Muslims for canceling festive celebrations during the days of mourning. He noted that their decision to share their shared pain and cancel events commemorating Nowruz and Ramadan is "a vivid confirmation of the brotherhood, friendship, and mutual respect" between Christians and Muslims in Georgia.