Part of NGOs say that the proposed amendments to the Administrative and Criminal Codes are a direct violation of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
NGOs believe that the new amendments are an attempt by the government to ban any form of protest.
“The new amendments to the Administrative and Criminal Codes initiated by Ivanishvili’s parliament are a direct violation of the essential basis of democratic order – freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. With these amendments, the government is trying to ban any form of protest. The initiated regulations create a legal reality where a citizen can be punished under criminal law simply because he or she spoke out. Such legislation is alien to the democratic world and directly contradicts the Constitution of Georgia and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
This initiative concerns not only politically active groups – it concerns every citizen of Georgia who publicly demands justice, is outraged by corruption, protests against illegal detention or an unfair verdict, unregulated infrastructure or lack of benefits, tries to protect women or children from violence, raises his or her voice to protect the environment, etc.
The government is sending the same threat to everyone with these changes: if you speak out, you will be arrested. We, the signatory organizations, assess these changes as an attempt to ban peaceful protests and another step in the process of dismantling democratic institutions,” reads the joint statement.
Part of NGOs: The amendments to the Administrative and Criminal Codes is a direct violation of freedom of assembly and expression – the government is trying to ban any form of protest
