Kobakhidze Responds to Swedish PM's LGBTQ+ Statement, Says Georgia Must Take Preventive Measures
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, August 4, 2025
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has responded to recent comments by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson regarding LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine, warning that the statement sheds light on future risks and demands that may be placed on Georgia during its own EU integration process.
Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze said Kristersson's post serves as a reminder of the scale of the challenges ahead and justified the government's adoption of the controversial "Law on Family Values and Protection of Minors."
"This statement by the Swedish Prime Minister reminds us of how great the scale of the risks is and what kind of demands may be made on us in the future," Kobakhidze said. "Accordingly, we need to take preventive measures, and one of them was the Law on Family Values and Protection of Minors, which we will protect to the maximum extent."
Kobakhidze linked these concerns to broader cultural and social trends, which he said threaten national identity. "We were talking about serious threats that are generally related to these topics [same-sex marriage]. There is very active propaganda in this direction, which creates serious problems in Europe, the American continent and in different parts of the world," he said. "All this is directly reflected in statistics, it directly threatens the personal identity of a person. We need to protect our national interests."
His remarks came after Kristersson posted on social media that Ukraine should legalize same-sex partnerships and provide full legal protection to LGBTQ+ individuals as part of its EU accession process. In the post, Kristersson wrote:
"Today I received Ukrainian LGBTQI veterans in Sagerska. When they risk their lives on the front line and in other ways participating in the resistance, they help defend Ukraine. However, they are also a living expression of the liberal values for which Ukraine is fighting.
Today, same-sex couples cannot marry or enter into a registered partnership in Ukraine. Full legal protection of the rights of all minorities, including the LGBTQI community, is an important part of Ukraine's approach to the EU and we support it. As a strong supporter of Ukraine, Sweden will closely monitor its implementation."
Georgian Dream government has faced criticism from civil society and international organizations for its recent legislation on "family values," which opponents argue discriminates against LGBTQ+ individuals and contradicts human rights standards. The ruling party defends the law as a measure to protect national traditions and children.
