Toughening of the law on meetings and demonstrations criticized in Georgia

The day before, the Georgian parliament adopted in the first reading amendments to the law “On meetings and demonstrations.” Deputies from the ruling Georgian Dream decided to tighten the rules for holding protests after a statement by the country's Security Service about destabilization in the country allegedly being prepared in October-December.

“Current norms already provide for the possibility of an appropriate response in the event of such threats, and there is no need to establish additional prohibitions,” said Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, calling the amendments “a cruel restriction of freedom of speech.”

According to the amendments, protest organizers will be prohibited from setting up a stage or other structures if the devices pose a threat to protest participants or other persons or interfere with the police’s ability to maintain public order. The structure cannot be erected if nothing interferes with the event without it. In case of violation of the rules, the participants of the action will be fined 500 lari (about $190), the organizers - 5 thousand lari ($1.9 thousand).

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