Georgian Parliament to consider bill on tougher measures against manifestations

In Georgia, the MPs from the parliamentary majority have drafted a bill on amending the Law "On Assemblies and Manifestations". If adopted, it will empower the police with more freedom at dispersal of oppositional rallies and actions; while it will become much harder to get permits for holding such events.

The local Ombudsman and the country's opposition have already criticized the document.

Under the bill, people without Georgian citizenship and minors cannot be organizers of assemblies and manifestations. The distance from the place of the action to some important state agencies should not be less than 20 meters. Protesters are restricted in their rights to block streets and roads; and responsibility is introduced for creation and funding of illegal formations.

The bill says that in addition to firearms and bladed weapons, neuro-paralytic or chemical agents that can cause life-threatening harm to citizens, the possession of "other items that can injure or kill a human" will be punishable by the law. The bill gives no explanation of "other items".

The bill also says that if there is "mass alcohol consumption" among the protesters, the authorities will have the right to disperse the action. The bill fails to explain the notion "mass alcohol consumption". After a warning made by the authorities to stop the action, the participants will have 15 minutes to obey. After that, power agents have the right to disperse the gathering.

The bill also reads that the authorities will have the right to demand to stop an action, if the demonstrators violate the rights of residents of neighbouring houses to free movement and free operation of nearby shops and private institutions.