Georgia’s ruling party passed a package of legislative amendments on Thursday, October 16, increasing penalties for protest-related offences and giving courts the power to restrict individuals from political activity.
Protesters can now face 15 days in administrative detention for covering their faces or blocking roads during protests.
The fast-track legislation was proposed on Monday, October 13, and approved by parliament just three days later. It comes just weeks after a demonstration organised to coincide with election day descended into a chaotic attempt to storm the presidential palace in Tbilisi.
Read more: EU urges calm in Georgia after failed attempt to storm presidential palace
The rally on October 4, the largest in months, drew tens of thousands of largely peaceful protesters onto the streets. However, the night ended in clashes, with police deploying pepper spray, tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters.
More than 50 people have now been arrested in connection with the incident, according to the Tbilisi-based Civil Georgia newspaper. In the aftermath, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned of serious repercussions, prompting fears of a wider crackdown among government critics.
Penalties for protest
Protests have been going on daily since November 28, 2024, following incumbent party Georgian Dream’s decision to suspend talks on EU integration. Each evening, for more than 320 days, demonstrators have gathered outside parliament to protest what they view as the government’s authoritarian turn and growing alignment with the Kremlin.
Since protests erupted last year, Georgian Dream has ramped up penalties. In December, the government increased fines for “blocking the road” ten-fold to 5000 lari ($1,800 USD), nearly twice the average monthly salary in Georgia.
Now, many protesters face jail time instead of fines. First-time offenders can be detained for up to 15 days for covering their faces, carrying pepper spray, or blocking a road, whilst repeated offenders could be imprisoned for up to a year.
Penalties have also been tightened for insulting police officers, possessing fireworks or weapons, and participating in assemblies banned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Individual bans from politics
Georgian Dream also approved a separate legislative package on October 16, which enables the restriction of individuals’ political activity. Under the new law, individuals associated with parties declared unconstitutional can be stripped of their passive voting rights, meaning they would no longer be able to run in parliamentary or local elections; assume high-level office; lead a constitutional body; or partake in party activities- including membership of any party or establishing any new ones.
The legislation also came shortly after the publication of a controversial parliamentary investigation into the United National Movement (UNM), Georgia’s ruling political party from 2003 to 2012. Several opposition leaders were summoned to testify as part of the investigation earlier this year but refused, leading to prison sentences ranging from seven to eight months.
As reported by OC Media, an independent Georgian news organization, Georgian Dream is preparing a constitutional lawsuit based on the findings of the commission, aiming to ban UNM and opposition groups it claims are linked to a “collective UNM”. Under the new laws, individual politicians linked to banned parties could also be targeted.
Reactions
Civil society groups have been quick to raise the alarm about both sets of laws. The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA), issued a stark warning, saying the law banning individuals from politics “may lead to the disappearance of the political spectrum in the long term” and represents “significant democratic erosion”.
A group of 25 civil society organisations also released a joint statement condemning the laws and claiming they contradict the Constitution of Georgia and European Convention of Human Rights.
“These changes [are] an attempt to ban peaceful protest and another step in the process of dismantling democratic institutions,” they wrote.
Featured image:
Image: Georgian government propaganda event. Prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze behind the microphone.
Author: Jelger Groeneveld via Wikimedia Commons
License: Creative Commons Licenses
