Georgian Dream has initiated a new tightening of the law on rallies

Amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, prepared by the Georgian Dream party, are aimed at banning spontaneous protests near government buildings.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," daily protests have been taking place in Georgia for the second year now, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all those detained for participating in the demonstrations. Demonstrators have blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue for 343 consecutive days. Since  November 6, security forces have prevented activists from blocking traffic, setting up a human wall of police officers along the roadway. Protesters have been detained for attempting to enter the road. On December 8, the 376th day of continuous protests, protesters marched to the Georgian Ministry of Health building. 

The Georgian Parliament plans to expedite the review of amendments that would ban spontaneous protests near government buildings. The amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations and the Code of Administrative Offenses were drafted by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The bill proposes requiring activists to obtain approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for assemblies "in places where people move," specifically near government buildings and courthouses. Police will also be able to require those requesting approval to move the demonstration to another location, change the time of the event, or change the method of holding it, according to Novosti Gruzia. 

The amendments, which are guaranteed to be adopted by a parliamentary majority, will effectively ban protests on Rustaveli Avenue near the parliament building, where supporters of Georgia's European integration traditionally gather daily. 

“Warning about organizing and holding a demonstration must be given to the patrol police at least five days before each meeting or demonstration,” Publika notes. 

The entire bill, registered with the Parliamentary Bureau, has not yet been published, so there is no information yet on the specific penalties Georgian Dream plans to introduce for failure to comply with these requirements. The annotation to the document states that the bill also aims to regulate issues "related to the termination of a gathering or demonstration."

The previous bill, which toughened penalties for violations during protests, including blocking roads,  was passed by the Georgian parliament in a rushed manner over two days in October, following the attempted storming of the presidential palace. Prior to this, on February 6, parliament had already  toughened penalties for offenses committed during protests.

On October 4, the day of municipal elections, thousands of people gathered in central Tbilisi. After opera singer Paata Burchaladze declared that power in Georgia belongs to the people, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces near the presidential palace. Security forces used riot gear, while protesters used firecrackers. Six demonstrators and 21 security forces were hospitalized, and another 30 people received medical treatment on the spot. Police opened a criminal investigation  into calls to overthrow the government, attacks on police officers, and the storming of the palace.