Georgian Dream Announces Harsher Penalties for Administrative and Criminal Offenses
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
The Georgian Dream (GD) party has announced legislative changes aimed at increasing penalties for various administrative and criminal offenses, including "insulting officials" and "assaulting police." The amendments will also criminalize threats or violence against civil servants. Public calls for violence, previously considered an administrative offense, will now be punishable by imprisonment for up to three years instead of financial penalties.
GD parliamentary majority leader Mamuka Mdinaradze revealed the proposed changes on February 3 following a party political council meeting. He framed the reforms as a response to ongoing political instability, stating that "the attempt to overthrow the government by the agents of the 'Deep State' continues" and that the ruling party requires "appropriate levers and means to govern the country" and "serve the citizens."
Mdinaradze emphasized that these changes are only the initial phase of broader legislative reforms, promising further measures "until the imposed norms are completely replaced by the adoption of norms necessary for the proper functioning and independence of the state." He confirmed that the relevant amendments had already been drafted.
The amendments introduce harsher penalties for both administrative and criminal violations. Indoor rallies without prior consent from the building owner will be prohibited. Penalties, including fines and detention periods, will be increased for offenses such as petty hooliganism, disobeying lawful police orders, vandalism, insulting the police, and blocking court entrances. The maximum period of administrative detention will be extended from 15 to 60 days. Insulting a public official in connection with their work will become a new administrative offense.
Public calls for violence will now carry a prison sentence of up to three years instead of a fine. Resisting, threatening, or using violence against the police will be classified as a serious crime, punishable by five to ten years in prison. Crimes committed against police, state authorities, and their family members will have new aggravating circumstances, particularly if carried out in groups, under specific conditions, or using dangerous means. The punishment for harming the health of police officers will be increased. In addition, a new criminal code will criminalize threats of attack or violence against political authorities, state officials, or public servants.
The new measures are expected to impact activists and protesters, many of whom have already faced legal action under existing laws.
