Gocha Pipiya, a member of the Georgian parliament representing the Zugdidi region, gave a speech in the country’s parliament demanding to know the ethnicities and religions of all members of the executive branch’s cabinet and their parents, according to UCSJ’s Tblisi bureau, citing a June 10, 2004 report by the Black Sea Press. Mr. Pipiya reportedly said the following in his speech:

“I don’t doubt the patriotism of deputies and members of the government… However, I categorically demand that the ministers publicly answer the question of what their ethnicities are, and that of their parents, and what are their religious beliefs.”

Other MPs reacted to this speech extremely negatively. Amid jeering and whistles from other members of parliament, Mr. Pipiya’s microphone was cut off in mid-speech, and top government officials later issued statements condemning him.

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