Georgian Dream further tightens regulations for assemblies and demonstrations

Georgia's ruling party has initiated amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations and the Code of Administrative Offenses, the discussion and adoption of which will proceed expeditiously. According to the bill, organizers of events at "places where people move" will be required to notify state authorities in advance.

If an assembly-manifestation poses a threat to public safety, law enforcement, the normal functioning of institutions and organizations, or the movement of vehicles and people, the authorized government agency will offer demonstrators an alternative location, time, and route.

Failure to comply with the instructions set out in the amendments will result in penalties; the exact penalties have not yet been announced.

As a reminder, Georgian Dream has repeatedly tightened legislation regarding rallies amid the daily protests in central Tbilisi that have been ongoing for over a year.

Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, commented on the ruling party's latest initiative, noting that this bill "further restricts the right to hold demonstrations."

"All protests planned in 'places of mass gatherings,' meaning in all central districts of Tbilisi, will be required to obtain prior permission. The main goal is the protest that has been ongoing on Rustaveli Street for a year now!" the politician wrote.

She also published the flags of Georgia and the EU, emphasizing that the EU flag is what drives Georgians to protest.

"This is also the flag for which Georgians demonstrate barehanded, pay exorbitant fines, suffer police beatings, end up in jail, but never give up on their European future!" Zurabishvili declared.

Последние новости
Georgia and Armenia will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup
Sport
Georgia and Armenia will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup
29 April 2026

Georgia and Armenia will host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The national football associations of both countries confirmed this information, which was received at the FIFA Council in Vancouver on April 28.

Azerbaijani human rights activists condemned Karimli's ongoing arrest
Human rights
Azerbaijani human rights activists condemned Karimli's ongoing arrest
29 April 2026

The Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Ali Karimli expressed strong protest on the occasion of the 61st birthday of the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), which the politician is celebrating in the pretrial detention facility of the State Security Service. The human rights activists accused the authorities of exerting pressure on Karimli for years, including the revocation of his passport and periodic arrests.

The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament declared that joining the EU following the Ukrainian or Moldovan model is unacceptable
Politics
The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament declared that joining the EU following the Ukrainian or Moldovan model is unacceptable
29 April 2026

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that Georgia's territorial integrity is inviolable and will not be subject to negotiation for EU membership. He criticized the "Ukrainian and Moldovan-style" approaches to European integration, calling them alien to Georgia.

NIYSO: Three young men kidnapped in Chechnya and forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense
Human rights
NIYSO: Three young men kidnapped in Chechnya and forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense
29 April 2026

The Chechen opposition movement NIYSO announced the arrest and subsequent deployment to Ukraine of three young men from the village of Tangi-chu in the Urus-Martan district of the Chechen Republic. Fellow villagers reportedly asked for prayers for them.