**Venice Commission Criticizes Georgian Legislative Amendments**
The Venice Commission has called for a review of the amendments to Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offenses and Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations. The commission says these laws contain vague provisions that give authorities too much power.
**Rushed Legislative Process**
The amendments were passed by the Georgian Parliament in December 2024 and February 2025. However, the Venice Commission states that this process was rushed and didn’t involve relevant stakeholders. This undermines the legitimacy of the amendments.
**Concerns Over Freedom of Assembly and Expression**
The commission is concerned that these amendments will limit freedom of assembly and expression. The laws increase fines for minor offenses like swearing at a police officer and impose harsh penalties for covering one’s face during protests.
**Recommendations from the Venice Commission**
To address these concerns, the Venice Commission recommends:
* Reviewing the severity of sanctions for freedom of assembly and expression
* Introducing clear criteria for administrative arrest
* Providing an effective remedy against administrative arrest
* Defining specific elements to ensure a narrow meaning of new prohibitions
The commission believes that revisiting these amendments is essential to protect fundamental freedoms.
