Eight Female MPs Demand Justice for Shalva Ramishvili's Sexual Harassment Victims
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Eight Female MPs issued a statement expressing solidarity with all women who have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of rights violations.
The statement reads that they strongly condemn the continuous attack by violent and propaganda machines against Tatia Samkharadze, who was the first to publicly discuss and demand a legal response against the sexual harassment by Shalva Ramishvili in Georgia. Ramishvili was found guilty in the court's two instances.
The female MPs also condemn the statements made by the leaders of the ruling team on these and other alleged harassment facts, which 4 more women have spoken about in recent days.
"In recent days, the authorities have gone beyond the phase of silence that we have seen in other cases, and are openly supporting the harasser, telling all perpetrators of violence and discrimination to not speak out and report the abusers.
It is especially unacceptable for us that government representatives used the parliamentary tribune to spread this message. Also, the position of the chairman of the Parliament's Gender Equality Council, which has a special responsibility to promote not only the legal framework for the protection of women's rights but also the creation of an appropriate environment for the implementation of laws in practice, is unacceptable.
Over the past few days, we have seen the most dangerous and vicious practice of using state institutions to persecute the victim and re-produce false narratives in order to protect the reputation of the abuser and punish the victim. It is unacceptable when, on the grounds of protecting rights and law and order, with the involvement of state agencies, they invade people's living space. The mentioned incident deepens the suspicion of the use of illegal surveillance and monitoring practices and the misuse of the state machine to protect party interests. The fact that a person exposed by the court in harassment publicly threatens that information about the whistleblower's personal life will be made public shows a feeling of untouchability and impunity, which reveals the complete incompetence of the state and the law," the statement reads.
Female MPs demand that investigative agencies study and give a legal assessment of the persecution operation against Tatia Samkharadze; They should also study and give a legal assessment of the accusations made by other women about the harassment by Shalva Ramishvili, including the secret phone recording aired by Formula TV.
The statement is signed by: Ana Natsvlishvili, Teona Akubardia, Khatia Dekanoidze, Ana Buchukuri, Khatuna Samnidze, Ani Tsitlidze, Salome Samadashvili, Tamar Kordzaia.
