Someone wanting to put an equality sign between foul language and free speech is simply intellectual degradation – we do not intend to enter into excessive polemics with the United States of America, – this was stated by Georgian Dream MP Irakli Kadagishvili, responding to the US Embassy’s statement distributed by Radio Liberty, in which it is noted that they “are concerned about the Georgian government’s Directorate for Combating Hate Speech.”

According to him, it is absolutely unacceptable for society that foul language become a weapon of influence over our society, its disintegration, suppression, and demoralization.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for society that foul language become a weapon of influence over our society, its disintegration, suppression, and demoralization. Why is swearing prohibited? Because when one person swears at another, this causes demoralization, bullying, and psychological destruction. Therefore, foul language, swearing, and demoralization on social networks is analogous, only an attack of a much larger scale on a person and on society. That is why this foul language cannot have free rein.

As for someone wanting to put an equality sign between foul language and free speech, this is simply intellectual degradation. We will always be supporters of free speech, but we will always be against foul language.

As for the United States of America, we do not intend to enter into excessive polemics, because media freedom is quite developed and protected in our country. With regard to the current situation in America, many interesting parallels can even be drawn, because we want the development of a completely different, positive agenda with America,” – Irakli Kadagishvili stated.

In response to the question of where the boundary lies between freedom of expression and hate speech or insult, Kadagishvili replied that foul language cannot have any connection with freedom.

“Imagine if I do not like your question or report and address you with rude, foul words and evaluate your journalistic activity – what would I be? Would I be an expresser of free speech and thought, or an ordinary abuser?

Foul language cannot have any connection with freedom! They tell us to make what contradicts human nature the norm of life. Every normal society, whether it is America or Europe, fights this to the best of its ability. The boundary runs exactly here – society must not allow itself to fall under the captivity of foul language, because foul language destroys a person’s psyche – that of the speaker, the listener, and the recipient. And this, of course, spreads to the entire society,” – Kadagishvili stated.

In response to the question of whether politicians have contributed to this hate speech, Kadagishvili replied that everyone bears their share of responsibility – the politician, the media representative, the ordinary person, and so on.

“I agree with you that everyone bears their share of responsibility – the politician, the media representative, the ordinary person, and so on. I do not want to say that this responsibility belongs to someone and not to someone else. It belongs to everyone. Simply, if we now follow the logic that since a politician may also use dirty vocabulary, therefore this is allowed – this is not the correct approach. For no one, starting from a politician and ending with an ordinary person who wants to express their opinion on public or country-critical issues, should foul language be acceptable.

Foul language is an evil tongue. If we follow this evil tongue, the entire society will reach a very bad result.

The fact that either I or someone else has gone out of line in the public space and said a bad word – you see how bad it is, don’t you? No one likes this, including the speaker of that word. But what we are saying is that this should not be encouraged, should not become the norm, and we should not applaud it; rather, it should be condemned and removed from public relations,” – Irakli Kadagishvili stated.

For reference, in response to a question from Radio Liberty concerning the imprisonment of citizens for insulting politicians on social media and the newly created “Directorate for Combating Hate Speech,” the US Embassy in Georgia stated that it “is concerned about the creation of this directorate.”

“We are concerned about the Georgian government’s Directorate for Combating Hate Speech. The best response to lies and false views is more freedom of speech, not enforced silence,” – the Embassy told Radio Liberty.