Interior Ministry initiates changes for sexual crimes against minors

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has drafted a bill which provides civil restrictions and tougher punishment for those convicted of sexual crimes against minors.

The ministry has not yet provided the details of the bill, but reported that convicts in sexual crimes against minors will be deprived of the right to work at educational institutions.

They will be deprived of their other civil rights as well.  The ministry will create a special database of all people convicted for sexual crimes against minors. The individuals will be under permanent surveillance to prevent sexual crimes against minors,” the ministry statement reads.

The announcement by the ministry was made shortly after the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Gori and a recent incident in Batumi, in western Georgia, where a 55-year-old man has been detained for indecency towards a minor in public transport.

The current legislation provides five to seven years in prison for indecent against children under 14.  The sentence for sexual crimes against minors may reach 20 years based on the circumstances.