The Office of the Public Defender of Georgia issued a statement following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's remark about opposition leader Nika Gvaramia, in which he laughingly suggested that Gvaramia could not overcome "mental problems."
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On November 11, representatives of pro-government TV channels questioned Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze about recent developments in the country. One of the questions addressed the political statements made by opposition leader Nika Gvaramia following the elections.
"Well, Gvaramia claimed that he had mental problems, but he was treated and overcame this condition. However, it turns out that..." - at this point, the Prime Minister began to laugh and couldn’t finish his sentence. He then continued, "However, I am absolutely serious. In fact, it turned out that he didn’t solve any problems."
According to the Public Defender, cases of humiliating individuals with mental health issues and expressing stigmatizing attitudes have recently increased, including among state officials.
"Unfortunately, statements promoting stereotypes against people with mental health problems have become more frequent in various formats, violating fundamental principles of human dignity and encouraging discrimination.
Stereotypical attitudes and stigma against people with mental health problems remain strong in the country, and they are often the targets of unequal treatment. When public figures express these stereotypical attitudes, it undermines efforts to integrate people with mental health issues into society," the Public Defender stated, adding that reducing stigma and promoting the protection of rights for individuals with mental health issues is a direct responsibility of politicians and public figures.
The Public Defender urges them to prevent individuals from being placed in unequal conditions due to mental health issues and to refrain from making statements that reinforce stigma.
