Georgian Parliament toughens regulations on manifestations

On July 17, the Parliament of Georgia adopted three bills "On Assemblies and Manifestations", "On Police" and Code of Administrative Offences, which assume tougher regulations on holding manifestations and more severe punishments for beaching them.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 11 the Georgian Parliament passed, in the first reading at its extraordinary session, a legislative package initiated by the party in power and assuming tougher regulations on holding protest actions. The extraordinary session was convoked because most of the time of the spring session period, restrictions were in force on the work of the Parliament because of mass actions of the opposition in central Tbilisi; and an essential part of the agenda points remained unaddressed.

The amendments to the Law "On Assemblies and Manifestations" were supported in the third reading by 86 votes; they run that a complete or partial blocking of the pedestrian or motor roads should be possible only in case a "sufficient" number of protesters get together. No particular figure is given in the amendments. Besides, it is forbidden to rally or hold manifestations closer than 20 meters from the entrance to some state institutions, as reported by the "Gazeta.Ru".

The amendments to the Law "On Police" were passed by 79 MPs, with one vote against. The Law now grants the right to the police to use "non-lethal" arms in performance of their official duties in the aim of defending the public order, fighting the crime and actions that bring danger to the public.

Besides, amendments have been passed to the Code of Administrative Offences, which assume administrative responsibility for organized blocking of roads by vehicles and for making graffiti and inscriptions on facades of administrative buildings.

According to the amended Code, the maximum term of administrative custody is increased from one month to three, and the fine for breaking the rules of organizing and holding rallies and manifestations will now make 500 laris (about 300 US dollars) instead of former 400 laris (about 243 US dollars).

The opposition found the three bills to be repressive, refused to vote and demonstratively left the hall in protest.

Now the oppositionists demand from the President of Georgia to impose his veto on the above amendments. However, as the "Rosbalt" writes, in the opinion of some experts, the President will hardly take the opposition's opinion into account.