The Democracy Research Institute echoes another repressive and authoritarian legislative initiative intorduced in the one-party Parliament, the purpose of which is to completely disregard the right to assembly and expression. In addition, the content of the draft laws makes it clear that the amendments are aimed at instilling fear among the participants in protests and thus putting an end to protests.

According to the legislative initiative, amendments will make to the articles of the Criminal Code and the Administrative Offences Code that are most often used against demonstrators. In particular, according to the amendments to be made to the Administrative Offences Code, in cases of covering the face with a mask or any other means, intentionally creating obstacles to the movement of people or transport, possessing tear gas or poisonous substances, or nerve agents, arranging a temporary structure (if its arrangement prevents the police from maintaining public order), partially or completely blocking the roadway (if the demonstration can be held otherwise considering the number of participants), the judge is obliged to impose administrative detention on the participant in the demonstration for up to 15 days (in the case of the organizer, up to 20 days).[1]

In addition, according to the amendments to the Administrative Offences Code, a protester will be subject to administrative detention for up to 60 days if he or she brings to the rally: a firearm, explosive, flammable, radioactive substance, cold weapon or pyrotechnic product, as well as an object or substance that is used or may be used to cause harm to the life and health of participants in the assembly or demonstration or other persons;

In addition, the legislative amendments criminalize the right to freedom of assembly. In particular, criminal liability is provided for the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts, in particular, up to one year of imprisonment. According to the amendments to the Criminal Code, Article 3533 will be added to the Code, according to which, insulting a law enforcement official and/or disobeying a lawful order for the third time by a person subject to administrative fines shall result in criminal liability and shall be punishable by up to one year of imprisonment.

In parallel with the large-scale and continuous protests, Georgian Dream is trying to completely ignore the constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression by enforcing repressive laws. After November 28, the amount of the sanction provided for artificially blocking a road has increased 10 times, amounting to GEL 5,000. The imposition of administrative detention and then criminal liability for the above-mentioned violation is especially alarming in the absence of an impartial and independent court. According to the Democracy Research Institute, the court has so far recognized all person as administrative violators and fined thousands of people GEL 5,000.

Georgian Dream intensified legislative repressions after November 28, when large-scale protests were launched. The party has adopted a number of laws in an accelerated manner - administrative fines and terms of administrative detention have increased. In addition to the adoption of repressive laws, the quality and intensity of their implementation in practice is particularly problematic. Repressive legislation, which provides for disproportionately high fines and lengthy administrative detention, is actively used against peaceful demonstrators through biased courts.

According to the Democracy Research Institute, the proposed changes practically no longer leave the opportunity for peaceful demonstrators to exercise their right to freedom of assembly and expression, which is ultimately an attempt to suppress protests and intimidate citizens.