Amidst the large-scale pro-European protests, the Georgian Dream party is tightening the Code of Administrative Offenses.
In particular, they are urgently considering amendments that will significantly increase sanctions for violations that the police usually use against protest participants.
The new regulations provide for:
- Increasing the fine for obstructing traffic from 1,000 to 2,000 GEL, and suspension of driving privileges for 1 year;
- Increasing the fine for damaging the appearance of the city from 50 to 1,000 GEL and 2,000 GEL for repeat violations;
- Increasing the fine for violating the norms of assemblies and demonstrations from 500 to 5,000 GEL and a fine of 15,000 GEL or administrative imprisonment for organizers;
- Illegal wearing of an MIA uniform, punishable by a fine of 2,000 GEL and its confiscation;
- Failure of a parent or other legal representative of a child to raise and educate a minor or to fulfill other duties towards him/her. This has been added to the commission of an act provided for in Article 173 of the same Code (disobedience to a lawful request of a law enforcement officer).
The amendments also expand the grounds on which a person can be detained, and their items or documents seized.
GYLA says it is obvious that the government is trying to intimidate the population by disproportionately increasing sanctions for actions related to gatherings, demonstrations and protests.
“Especially when the Code of Administrative Offenses is used against protest participants, while the court does not fulfill its function and, as a rule, considers the contradictory testimonies presented by the police as credible without appeal, it is expected that the state will use these sanctions not to protect public order, but against the rights of freedom of expression and assembly,” GYLA states.
