Georgian Dream passes new amendments targeting protests
New amendments targeting protests in Georgia
The Georgian Dream-led parliament has passed amendments to the law restricting assemblies and demonstrations in a third and final reading. The bill was supported by 79 MPs, while nine voted against it.
The amendments require organizers to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) five days before a gathering or demonstration. The MIA has the right to propose an alternative time and location for the event.
“If participants refuse to hold a gathering or demonstration in the location suggested by the MIA, they will face administrative detention for up to 15 days, and in case of repeat offences, criminal liability, including imprisonment for up to one year,” said Georgian Dream MP Irakli Kirtskhalia at a briefing.
New amendments targeting protests in Georgia:
- Organizers of planned or spontaneous gatherings and demonstrations will now be required to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), rather than local self-government bodies as before, if the event is held “in areas of public movement.”
- Notifications must still be submitted at least five days before the event. In the case of spontaneous gatherings, the notice must be submitted as soon as the organizer or another responsible person becomes aware of the time and location of the meeting.
- The MIA will have three days from receiving the notice (or, for spontaneous gatherings, immediately at the venue) to assess whether it is necessary to change the location or time, or alter the slogans of the gathering or demonstration, and issue a corresponding mandatory order, either in writing or verbally.
Previously, municipalities could make recommendations on changing the location or time of a gathering, but these were not binding. Grounds for issuing such recommendations included: a) threats to the normal operation of businesses, organizations, and institutions; b) another gathering planned in the same location.
The new bill adds additional grounds: threats to the unobstructed movement of vehicles and people, as well as threats to human rights and freedoms or public order.
- Under the amendments, if participants partially or completely block a roadway or “area of public movement,” the MIA is empowered to order the reopening of the route and/or restore public movement, if the gathering or demonstration can be conducted in another way, taking into account the number of participants. Previously, this rule applied only to road blockages.
- Artificially blocking a roadway or “area of public movement” is prohibited if not required by the number of participants. Previously, this restriction applied only to roads.
- If this rule is violated, the MIA can address participants and/or the organizer and warn them that if the mass obstruction of transport or pedestrian movement is not lifted within 15 minutes, the gathering will be considered illegal and terminated.
- Even if a participant leaves the road or area within 15 minutes, they remain liable for the initial violation.
- According to amendments to Article 174 of the Georgian Criminal Code, blocking public movement or failing to comply with MIA orders to change the location, time, or route of a gathering carries administrative detention of up to 15 days (up to 20 days for organizers). Repeat offences, under Article 347, carry criminal liability, including imprisonment for up to one year.
New amendments targeting protests in Georgia
