Georgian Public Defender responded to the 31 March program aired by the Channel 25, during which member of the Republican Party Murman Dumbadze set the line between ethnic Georgians and other citizens based on ethnic origins.  Public Defender states that it was a discriminatory approach. 

“I believe such a statement must be strictly criticized by me as I believe it inadmissible to describe ethnic origins as any kind of problem,” statement by the Public Defender reads and clarifies that “political figures must especially refrain from making such type of statements, as it may promote intolerance in the society, which endangers civil unity and insults not only specific individuals, but dignity of Georgian citizens in general and is against the values and objectives the implementation of which is the strong will of Georgian citizens and is declared in the Georgian Constitution preamble.” 

Public Defender calls on media outlets, civil organizations and political forces to take necessary measures in order to avoid replication of the hate speech and xenophobia.