The Georgian parliament adopted a package of anti-protest laws.
The new laws will complicate rallies and deprive the current Georgian president of state protection. In the initial version of the document concerning protesters, pyrotechnics, firearms and bladed weapons, explosives, flammable and radioactive substances were prohibited. This was reported by the Georgian media Formula News and Business Media Georgia.
Georgian demonstrators were also prohibited from wearing masks or covering their faces in any way.
In addition, the new laws provide for a number of other fines:
- The fine for damaging the appearance of the city increases from 50 lari to 1 thousand lari. In case of repeated violation, it will be 2 thousand lari.
- The fine for blocking a road increases from 1 thousand lari to 2 thousand lari. If a vehicle blocks a road, the owner faces deprivation of his driver’s license for 1 year.
- The fine for violating the rules of the organization or holding meetings or demonstrations increases from 500 to 5 thousand lari. For the organizers it will be 15 thousand. lari or administrative arrest.
Also, parliamentarians in the third reading adopted a bill depriving Salome Zurabishvili of state protection at the end of her presidential powers. The changes mean that former prime minister, president or speaker of parliament will not have personal protection if their powers were terminated due to a violation of the Constitution or the commission of a crime.
Let us remind you that on December 5, Ukraine imposed sanctions against Georgian officials. The list included 19 officials, led by the de facto leader of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishivili.
Protests in Georgia have continued since November 28, when head of government Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of the country’s European integration until 2028.
Source: Formula News, Business Media Georgia
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.