Reacting to a new wave of arrests in Georgia, where police have detained over a dozen protesters after new restrictions on public gatherings have come into force, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“These arrests underscore an ever-deepening pattern of repression in Georgia. While countries may impose certain restrictions on protests to maintain public order, the new amendments go far beyond what is permissible under international human rights law.

“Peaceful gatherings may temporarily disrupt traffic or cause inconvenience – this does not justify dispersal or arrest, which must be the last resort for non-violent protest activity.”

“The Georgian authorities appear determined to silence peaceful protesters through intimidation and punishment. The authorities must release all those detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

Muzzling freedom of expression

New amendments to Georgia’s Administrative and Criminal Codes came into effect on 17 October, introducing harsher penalties for actions including covering one’s face and setting up temporary structures. These are now punishable by up to 15 days of administrative detention - or 20 days for organisers - while  participation in protests “subject to termination at the demand of the Ministry of Internal Affairs” will now be punishable by up to 60 days of administrative detention.

Repeated offences will now trigger criminal liability, with penalties of up to one year in prison for a second offence and up to two years for subsequent offences. Similarly, people who insult or disobey police orders three or more times will face criminal charges carrying up to one year in jail.

According to the Ministry of Interior, on 19 October the police identified 27 “offenders” who blocked a section of Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main street, on 18 October.

Fourteen people were taken into custody, while administrative proceedings are ongoing against the remaining 13. Prominent journalist and television anchor Vakho Sanaia was sentenced to six days in detention, and activist Lara Nachkebia was dealt a four-day detention for “covering her face.” Another journalist, Keti Tsitskishvili, has also been detained but is yet to be tried.