On January 23, Nestan Ananidze, a civil activist from Khulo, highland Adjara, received the Netherlands Embassy’s “Tulip Award for Human Rights”:
“You can see from my face and hands how nervous I am and how emotional it is to be here today. I would probably start by saying that years ago, I could never have imagined that Luso {Lusine Dostibegian}, an Armenian of Georgia from Tetritskaro, would nominate me – Nestan Ananidze – a Georgian girl from Khulo. However, here we are today, and as Madam Ambassador noted, I truly believe in the diversity that is expressed through the tulips and in the richness of diversity that exists in our country and the solidarity that connects us.
My grandmother was also a source of inspiration – she was a midwife in highland Adjara and often the last hope for many pregnant women in the mountains during both winter and summer. I am sure my grandmother would stand with me when I asked our government in the mosque for Georgian Muslims to have a dignified prayer space in this country.
I am sure my grandmother would stand beside me when I demanded the opening or restoration of the maternity ward in Khulo and dignified medical services for women – for expectant mothers whose nearest medical facility is in Batumi.
I believe my grandmother would stand here with you and appreciate each of your efforts for what you do for Georgian society.
I cannot leave this place without responding to everything happening in Georgia today, and I believe this award doesn’t belong to just me. This award belongs to every person who fights today in the streets, in prisons, near prisons, in regions, villages, and municipalities for human rights – for a better future of this country.
I also want to express solidarity with every person, every political prisoner who has experienced this harsh authoritarian regime on their own shoulders, their own bodies.
I also want to personally express solidarity with Mzia Amaghlobeli, who is a political prisoner. Mzia represents Batumelebi, who have repeatedly highlighted the voices of vulnerable groups and oppressed people in the media, in Batumelebi, and repeatedly emphasized that these people need human rights.
These people need a dignified living environment – be it Georgian Muslims, rural women, sexual minorities, and so on.
I would like to thank the Netherlands Embassy, which works tirelessly to support them in the regions, and for each community organization and their people, the people living there. I want to thank my mother and my family members who taught me that when people are oppressed, you must speak up and stand on the side of justice, thanks to Lusine Dostibegian, who once again reminded us that we are in this diverse country together with ethnic, religious, sexual minorities. This is a state built on a pattern of diversity.”
Nestan Ananidze has been working for years to protect the cultural heritage of the Georgian Muslim community. She is the co-founder of “Solidarity Community” and has worked on women’s access to medical services and LGBTQ+ rights during different periods.
The award ceremony was held in connection with International Human Rights Day, celebrated annually on December 10. The “Embassy Tulip” local award initiative comes from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and this event has been held annually in Georgia since 2018. At the event, Netherlands Ambassador, Her Excellency Meline Arakelian also awarded Lily Pulariani (a young activist from the Imereti village of Dimi) and Ayhan Gasanov – a lawyer at Sapari, co-founder of the Iormughanlo Community Center, and board member of Platform “Salam.
Photo: by April Media.