Wheelchair-user Kids were not Allowed in a Restaurant

Wheelchair-user Kids were not Allowed in a Restaurant

On June 22 on 2 p.m. the Public Defender of Georgia, NGO “Disabled Coalition for Life”, Young Lawyers Association, City Municipality Department on Health and Social Welfare, together with the association “Anika” held a press-conference on the unheard-of and absolutely disgusting incident that took place on 19 June in Mtskheta, restaurant “Khidashlebi”.

On June 19 of the current year the association “Anika” took 8 pupils of the school No. 10 for the disabled children to an outing to Tsilkani. Upon their return to Tbilisi the organizers decided to take the kids to a restaurant which is always busy. This would contribute to the full integration of the kids into society. They chose the restaurant “Khidashlebi” because it would be easier to take the wheelchair-user kids inside the restaurant. Unfortunately, Nana Gigauri, administrator of “Khidashlebi”, refused to take the kids in and serve them and explained this by not having enough room and seats. However, it turned out that the problem with the seats had nothing to do with it. Mr Vasil Maghlaperidze, the President’s representative in Mtsketa-Mtianeti region, stepped in the matter and after a conversation with him the restaurant administration agreed to take the kids. But this time the organizers of the trip did not wish to take the kids in the restaurant.

“This is an open discrimination, and violation of Article 14 of the Georgian Constitution, which, according to the Georgian Criminal Code, is a punishable act”, - said Beka Mindiashvili, head of the head of the City Municipality’s Department on Freedom and Equality.

Ana Dolidze, head of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association said that “the Procuracy and the Ministry of Internal Affairs is already informed of the fact and if they express their will then they can start investigating the matter”.

Rusudan Jamaspishvili