The illegitimate parliament has approved amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations in its first reading. As per the Georgian Dream bill, rally participants will be prohibited from covering their faces with masks or any other means, as well as from possessing pyrotechnics or lasers. The amendment is also incorporated into the Code of Administrative Offenses, with violations of these requirements resulting in a fine of 2000 GEL.
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The authors of the draft law are Georgian Dream members Rati Ionatamishvili, Aleksandre Tabatadze, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, Nino Tsilosani, Aluda Ghudushauri, Irakli Shatakishvili, and Guram Macharashvili.
The initial version of the amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations only addressed pyrotechnic products. However, after discussions during the session of the Legal Affairs Committee, the draft law was revised as follows:
“Participants in an assembly or manifestation are prohibited from:
- a) possessing firearms, explosives, flammable substances, radioactive substances, cold weapons, or pyrotechnic products;
a1) possessing any means of laser and/or sharp radiation, the use of which may interfere with the activities of representatives of state agencies and/or the proper functioning of technical means at their disposal;
a2) covering their faces with a mask or any other means.”
"When a citizen attends a rally to express their protest, it should also be in their interest to do so openly and publicly. When faces are covered, especially en masse, the risks of individuals or groups with violent, aggressive intentions increase significantly. During the committee discussion, we considered that certain professional groups - for example, journalists and doctors - could be exceptions. Our position on this matter is that it would be appropriate to establish exceptions, which we will discuss further during the second hearing," said Rati Ionatamishvili.
According to the draft law, the Minister of Internal Affairs will determine which participants or attendees of a gathering or demonstration may cover their faces due to professional activities, as well as the rules and conditions for issuing the appropriate permits.
At the session of the Legal Affairs Committee, the First Deputy Public Defender emphasized that attending a rally while wearing a mask is also a form of expression. "The key point is that the individual is participating peacefully and does not intend to use the mask to conceal criminal actions. On a principled level, I shared with you the standard - what international standards state regarding human rights protection - a blanket ban poses a problem. The challenge lies in formulating the regulation in a way that ensures balance," said Tamar Gvaramadze. She noted that the Public Defender would provide comments on this issue.
The Georgian Dream party is reviewing the legislative amendments under an expedited process and plans to adopt all three readings before the end of the autumn session. The session concludes on Friday, December 13.
President Salome Zourabichvili is unlikely to sign the draft law passed by Georgian Dream. According to her, the “regime” is enacting the new laws for its own benefit.
“Nothing is said about their ‘titushky’ no longer being allowed to wear masks or about the obligation, as per global standards, to wear identification marks,” the president stated.
The new regulations will likely take effect upon publication, signed by the illegitimate parliament speaker, Shalva Papuashvili.
