“The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia represents an entity responsible for ensuring public safety and order as well as protection of human rights and freedoms, regardless of person’s sex, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, political views or other status. Such statement Nino Tsatsiashvili, the Director of the Department of Human Rights Protection and Quality Monitoring at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, made while commenting on remarks made by some groups in Georgia, threatening to disrupt the screening of the Georgian-Swedish film “And Then We Danced”.

According to her, the policy of MIA is rigid and fair towards the persons committing hate crimes that primarily aims at eliminating all forms of discrimination and ensuring equal rights envisaged by Georgian legislation for any natural and legal persons.

“Alongside with increasing the efficiency of investigations on hate crimes, one of the priorities of the Ministry is to ensure freedom of expression.

Reportedly, on November 8, 9 and 10, 2019, the premiere of the movie “And Then We Dance” will take place in several cinemas in Tbilisi and Batumi. Besides, certain groups of society announced possible actions to disrupt the screening.

MIA will ensure the public safety and order on the ground, as well as freedom of expression of each person will be ensured that does not go beyond limits prescribed by the legislation.

Ministry of Internal Affairs once again urges everyone to obey requirements of the law. Otherwise, the police will act within its mandate and any case of violation of the law will be precluded immediately”, - said Tsatsiashvili.