On October 31, at the parliamentary plenary session, the Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee, Irakli Beraia, responded to independent MP Teona Akubardia with a sexist and obscene remark. Aluda Ghudushauri, First Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, also addressed the United National Movement member Ana Tsitlidze with a sexist and insulting statement.

It is not the first time when the ruling political power applies misogynistic, sexist expressions and gender-based discrimination. In 2020, Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze called Elene Khoshtaria and Irma Nadirashvili "desperate National housewives"[1] for playing the anthem of the Soviet Union at the parliamentary session, and on September 20, 2023, he said that he could not enter into a polemic with a woman, “because of traditions”.[2]

While one of the most important tasks of high political officials should be the protection of women's rights, on the contrary, misogynistic, sexist and gender-based discriminatory statements not only cause discrimination of a specific addressee, but also have a "chilling effect" on the protection of women's rights in the country.

The Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament of Georgia defines the rules of conduct for MPs, according to which, "It is not allowed for a Member of Parliament of Georgia to make an insulting, obscene, sexist, discriminatory speech or statement, or to carry out similar action."[3]

Since the violation of the rules by the representatives of the ruling political power is evident, the Democracy Research Institute calls on:

 

[1] publika.ge (website), 18.02.2020, available at: https://publika.ge/eseni-arian-sasowarkvetili-nacionali-diasakhlisebi-kobakhidze-khoshtaria-nadirashvilze/

[2] megatv.ge (website), 20.09.2023, available at: https://shorturl.at/elsxU  

[3] Resolution of the Member of Parliament of Georgia on the approval of the Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament of Georgia, Article 3, subparagraph n.