March 2022 - Page 6

Researchers at the University of Oxford have discovered a new variant of HIV infection that is potentially much more contagious and puts a bigger blow to the immune system. There are currently 109 people living with the virus in the Netherlands who show symptoms twice as fast.

According to scientists, the new strain – VB variant, destroys the immune system and also reduces the body’s ability to deal with common viruses and diseases much faster than previous strains of HIV, which means that the development of AIDS is much faster.

Researchers have also found that VB is 3.5-5.5 times more abundant in the blood, indicating that it will be much more easily transmitted, in addition, the degree of damage to the immune system increases twice as fast.

Frequent testing is the best way to fight HIV, including new strains, so if you have sex often and with different partners, be sure to get tested at a clinic, and if you are from an LGBTQ community or involved in sex work – call a quick test from Selftest.ge And take the test without leaving home.

HIV-negative people can join the prep program completely free of charge. Prep is a medication that reduces the risk of HIV infection by 99%.

Tensions between Ukraine and Russia are rising and LGBTQ people also have heightened fears about what might happen.

Even though the dispute between Ukraine and Russia started years ago, it might get worse. The precondition for this is provided by the tens of thousands of soldiers transported by Russia to the Ukrainian border.

The United States has 8,500 troops on standby in case the situation worsens. NATO has prepared fighter jets and ships for possible combat in Eastern Europe.

Russia’s potential attack will be catastrophic for the LGBTQ community as well. Queer activists think about what might happen in the event of an escalation of the conflict. They fear that progress on LGBTQ rights will stall and their freedom will be threatened. LGBTQ people are ready, if necessary, to fight for their country because they feel a patriotic duty toward their country.

“We are united in this issue. It does not matter your gender identity or orientation – we will all move forward together, “said Lenny Emson, director of the Kiev Pride.

He also noted that during war the society is more aggressive towards minorities and especially towards LGBTQ people.

“The Ukrainian LGBTQ movement is very successful. In September of last year, about 7,000 people marched with us. In addition to Kiev, we have Pride marches in several other cities. We have more than 30 LGBTQ organizations working in different regions of Ukraine. What we’re seeing now is that every member of the community is in danger every day,” said Lenny Emson.

The situation in Ukraine also worries people who have left the country. Bogdan Globa, a Ukrainian LGBTQ activist who has lived in the United States since 2016, is concerned about current events in his homeland. He says that the more Russia seizes territory from its homeland, more LGBTQ people are at risk.

Today is the birthday of “Tbilisi Pride”. The organization is 3 years old.

Mariam Kvaratskhelia, one of the founders of the organization and now its co-director, publishes a statement on the social network about this:

“We have gone through very difficult processes from the day the organization was founded until today. Fighting for equality and freedom is not easy. It is not easy to confront the institutions with great power and money, such as the Georgian Patriarchate, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, SState Security Service and, in general, homophobic state structures and government. Added to this is Russia’s soft power.

Today “Tbilisi Pride” and its events are the most important resistance not only in Georgia but also in the region. The fact that the Pride Festival was openly and announced in Georgia is an event that the whole region is talking about, including, in fact, Russia.

We have big plans ahead, we are not going to stop for a second, to retreat. What makes me most happy is that hundreds of queer people and supporters join us as members of the organization. We are a great force, which is already visible, but will gradually become even more apparent.

Join us in the fight for equality and freedom! “

The online petition in support of Ukraine’s accession to the EU has more than 50,000 signatories in one day. The petitioners also call on the Presidents of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Heads of Government of the EU Member States to open the European perspective of Georgia and Moldova.

“Georgian citizens fully express their solidarity with Ukraine’s struggle for independence and European aspirations. We are deeply convinced that the EU and its member states should consider the trio of the Eastern Partnership region – Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova – as a single and indivisible region, facing equal challenges from Russian aggression, occupation and annexation. Therefore, we hope that the EU will meet Ukraine’s application for membership and, similarly, open the door to the European perspective of Georgia and Moldova,” the statement said.

The authors of the petition are the Georgian Reform Association, the Open Society Georgia Foundation, the European-Georgian Institute, the Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies, the Human Rights Center, the Media Development Foundation and other organizations.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed the application for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union yesterday, 28 February. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she wants to see Ukraine join the EU.

You can sign the online petition at the link above.

A group of Georgian hackers – GNG has joined Anonymous – a group of hackers fighting against Russia. They have shut down several pro-Russian websites. GNG has shut down the website of a violent, pro-Russian website – Alt-info.

The founder of Alt-info, Konstantine Morgoshia, in an interview with Radio Tavisupleba, said that they are working to restore the website: “Work is underway. I’m not sure why the website was disconnected – the technicians are working at the moment. I think it will be fixed in a few hours… nothing was shut down.”

GNG has been active on Twitter since February 25, sharing information about the attacks on websites with their subscribers. The hackers also shut down the website of the Russian Ministry of Education, managed to obtain files and passwords of the Russian Security Service, as well as the website of the largest Russian private bank – Alfa Bank and the site of the largest Russian financial institution – Sber. In addition, it is impossible to access the website of VTB Bank, Georgian hackers have restricted access to the official website of the Chechen government.  The website of one of the most famous government media outlets – Russia Today, has also been made inaccessible.

GNG calls on Twitter subscribers to help in the fight against Russia and offers a joint attack on various pro-Russian websites.