On December 2,  Democracy Research Institute monitors observed a rally organized by the ultra-rightist extremist groups to disrupt Tamar Shavgulidze's movie "Comets" at Amirani Cinema.

The demonstration lasted for about an hour and a half and was attended by some 20 people. Democracy Research Institute Monitors estimated that up to 15 policemen were mobilized at the Amirani Cinema.

Organizers - On December 2, 2019, at 18:00, supporters of the ultra-right extremist groups gathered in front of Vere Park and the premises of ,,Amirani’’ Cinema. The event was organized by Guram Palavandishvili, the Chairman of the Society for the Protection of Children's Rights and David Lortkipanidze, a representative of the NGO Zneoba.

The purpose of the rally - the purpose of the homophobic rally was to disrupt the premiere of the LGBT movie "Comets" and to picket the movie theater. The Demonstrators were using hate speech in their statements. One of the protesters claimed that the LGBT community was trying to take away the Georgian nation's identity and that they were enemies of the state. Guram Palavandishvili, one of the organizers of the rally, stated that Tamar Shavgulidze's film "Comets" undermines the dignity of a Georgian woman and mother because the film is about a love story between two women.

Obstacles for the viewer - The rally was mostly peaceful. There were no violations of the law, The police were in control of the entrance to the movie theatre, and despite attempts, the demonstrators were not allowed to enter the building. However, there was a verbal altercation between some of the demonstrates and movie attendants coming out of the movie theater. 

Clergymen - Clergymen were noticeably active at the rally. They were urging police not to protect the supporters of "depravity propaganda".

The monitoring was made possible with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the framework of the project "Understanding and combating ultra-right extremism and nationalism in Georgia".