Georgia
Georgia tightens drug laws, introduces ‘mandatory treatment’ and penalties for avoiding drug tests
The changes were criticised as ineffective and politically motivated.
Rely on OC Media? We rely on you too.
Amidst the current global turmoil, small news outlets like ours could be the first to close. Help us get off grants and become the first reader-funded news site in the Caucasus, and keep telling the stories that matter.
Become a memberA man has been convicted in Georgia of the murder of trans media personality and model Kesaria Abramidze, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
On Wednesday, Tbilisi City Court found 26-year-old Beka Jaiani, Abramidze’s former partner, guilty on all charges, including murder with special cruelty, gender-based murder, and systematic beatings motivated by gender identity intolerance.
Jaiani confessed to the murder in December but denied he had committed the crime on the basis of gender.
Jaiani did not appear in court to make his closing statement, instead reportedly sending a letter in which he said he was unable to appear due to his ‘psycho-emotional state’.
Giorgi Mdinaradze, Jaiani’s lawyer, said the defence would appeal the verdict.
Abramidze’s body was found in her apartment in Tbilisi on 18 September 2024.
According to prosecutors, Jaiani stabbed Abramidze 28 times with a knife. He was apprehended the following day.
Communications revealed by a friend of the victim suggested that Jaiani was opposed to making their relationship public, but that he also refused to accept that they had broken up.
Georgian President attends funeral of murdered trans woman Kesaria Abramidze
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has attended the funeral of Kesaria Abramidze, a trans media personality and model who was murdered last week. Abramidze was laid to rest at a ceremony in Tbilisi on Sunday. She was also commemorated in Antwerp, a Belgian city that is home to a number of queer refugees and asylum seekers from Georgia. The Georgian Orthodox Church refused to provide burial services for Abramidze due to her transgender identity. Abramidze’s former partner, 26-year-old
Shota Kincha
Abramidze was a widely recognised and outspoken figure who was among the most prominent members of Georgia’s queer community.
Her high-profile murder led to an outpouring of grief and anger in Georgia, with many linking the case to the ruling Georgian Dream party’s transphobic rhetoric and legislation.
The murder took place the day after the ruling Georgian Dream party unilaterally approved a bill banning gender-affirming medical treatment and legal gender recognition, as well as effectively outlawing advocacy for queer rights.
Georgian parliament adopts homophobic laws
Georgia’s parliament has adopted the ruling party’s homophobic legislative package in its third and final reading, banning ‘LGBT propaganda’, same-sex marriage, and gender affirming medical treatment. At the plenary session held on Tuesday, 84 MPs from the parliamentary majority voted in favour of adopting the draft law in the third and final hearing, with none voting against it. They also voted on projects connected to the law, which similarly received the support of the majority. Around
OC Media
Related Articles
Georgia–EU Relations
Georgian Dream moves to downplay importance of EU visa-free travel
The comments come as the EU’s moves to update the mechanism for suspending visa-free travel to third countries.
Armenia
South Caucasus deputy foreign ministers stress ‘untapped cooperation’ during Tbilisi meeting
It was the first meeting to take place in such a format.
Georgia
Kobakhidze says ‘Saakashvili regime’ started August 2008 War on ‘orders’ from abroad
Kobakhidze said the blame for the war should not be put on Georgia as a whole, but rather the ‘regime’ of former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
