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Human Rights Watch on Thursday condemned Georgia’s new laws stating they effectively criminalize peaceful protest by imposing heavy fines and empowering police to detain protestors. These measures, adopted in late 2024 and enforced throughout 2025, have left citizens vulnerable to detention and financial penalties simply for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
In November 2024, Georgia’s ruling party suddenly suspended membership from the country’s long-standing bid to join the European Union (EU), a move that triggered widespread public outrage and mass demonstrations across the capital, Tbilisi and other cities.
The government responded to the protests with an enactment of new laws that sharply curtailed the right to peaceful demonstrations.
In February 2025, lawmakers extended the duration of detention for administrative offences from 15 days to 60 days targeting protest-related infractions. These offenses include petty hooliganism, disrespecting police orders or going contrary to assembly rules. New offenses including “verbal insult” of officials is punishable by up to 45 days in custody. Spontaneous demonstrations now require advance notification, while indoor gatherings demand written authorization beforehand.
Parliament in July 2025 approved measures mandating 30-60 days of detention for individuals with outstanding fines who commit even minor protest-related violations. This effectively punished repeat participants in assemblies by tying financial penalties to custodial sentences. Adjustments were also made to the Administrative Code by creating a direct link between unpaid fines and custodial punishments, further discouraging civic participation.
In October 2025, amendments comprised of an escalation in criminal charges. Repeated minor protests actions such as mask-wearing, blocking roads, erecting temporary structures or joining a protest disbanded by the police were reclassified as felonies. The punishment is up to two years in prison for ordinary participants and up to four years in prison for those identified as organizers.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes that these measures together with abusive policing violate Georgia’s obligations under international law. Georgia being a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is legally bound to respect and protect the civil and political right of its citizens, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly pursuant to Article 21 of the ICCPR.
In response to domestic and international criticism, Georgia’s government has rejected accusations that its new protest laws and policing tactics are repressive, framing criticism as foreign interference and misinformation. Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili accused outlets like BBC of spreading “completely unverified information” that harms Georgia’s reputation.
The post Georgia’s new laws criminalize peaceful protest, rights group warns appeared first on JURIST - News.
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In November 2024, Georgia’s ruling party suddenly suspended membership from the country’s long-standing bid to join the European Union (EU), a move that triggered widespread public outrage and mass demonstrations across the capital, Tbilisi and other cities.
The government responded to the protests with an enactment of new laws that sharply curtailed the right to peaceful demonstrations.
In February 2025, lawmakers extended the duration of detention for administrative offences from 15 days to 60 days targeting protest-related infractions. These offenses include petty hooliganism, disrespecting police orders or going contrary to assembly rules. New offenses including “verbal insult” of officials is punishable by up to 45 days in custody. Spontaneous demonstrations now require advance notification, while indoor gatherings demand written authorization beforehand.
Parliament in July 2025 approved measures mandating 30-60 days of detention for individuals with outstanding fines who commit even minor protest-related violations. This effectively punished repeat participants in assemblies by tying financial penalties to custodial sentences. Adjustments were also made to the Administrative Code by creating a direct link between unpaid fines and custodial punishments, further discouraging civic participation.
In October 2025, amendments comprised of an escalation in criminal charges. Repeated minor protests actions such as mask-wearing, blocking roads, erecting temporary structures or joining a protest disbanded by the police were reclassified as felonies. The punishment is up to two years in prison for ordinary participants and up to four years in prison for those identified as organizers.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes that these measures together with abusive policing violate Georgia’s obligations under international law. Georgia being a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is legally bound to respect and protect the civil and political right of its citizens, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly pursuant to Article 21 of the ICCPR.
In response to domestic and international criticism, Georgia’s government has rejected accusations that its new protest laws and policing tactics are repressive, framing criticism as foreign interference and misinformation. Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili accused outlets like BBC of spreading “completely unverified information” that harms Georgia’s reputation.
The post Georgia’s new laws criminalize peaceful protest, rights group warns appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.