**Parliament to Review Landmark Legislation for Crime Victims**
The Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights Committee is set to review a significant legislative package on June 20. The package, if enacted, will provide victims of certain crimes with a simplified process to receive compensation for property damage.
At its core, the proposal aims to ensure that those who have suffered losses due to specific crimes can be compensated more easily and efficiently. This initiative has been drafted by the ruling “Georgian Dream” party and will undergo its first reading at the level of general principles.
The proposed legislation affects five different laws: the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law on Enforcement Proceedings, the Law on Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation, and the Law on the Rules of Entry and Exit of Georgian Citizens to and from Georgia.
**A New Mechanism for Compensation**
The key innovation in this legislative package is the introduction of a mechanism that allows victims to receive compensation not only from the convicted person’s own assets but also from assets seized from close relatives or related persons. This means that those who have suffered property damage due to specific crimes will be able to claim compensation more easily, without having to navigate complex legal procedures.
The proposed legislative changes specify which crimes are eligible for this simplified compensation process. These include various articles of the Criminal Code, such as property-related offenses and serious crimes like murder or terrorism.
**A Ban on Leaving the Country**
In addition to the compensation mechanism, the legislative package also introduces a ban on leaving the country as a form of social protection. The duration of this travel ban will depend on the severity of the crime, with less serious crimes carrying a 6-year ban, serious crimes a 12-year ban, and especially serious crimes a 16-year ban.
**Protecting Victims’ Rights**
The package also addresses the issue of victims who have died due to their injuries. In such cases, the right to simplified compensation will transfer to the heirs or legal successors of the deceased.
This legislative package has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of Georgian citizens affected by crime. By providing a simpler process for claiming compensation and introducing measures like travel bans, the government aims to ensure that victims are better protected and supported.
