Parliament approves tightened sanctions for carrying melee weapons

Individuals carrying melee weapons in public spaces will be fined ₾500 ($186) after amendments to the Criminal Code and Administrative Offences Code for tightening penalties for the offence were approved by the Georgian Parliament on Wednesday.

The new penalty is an increase over the previous fine of ₾200 ($74) for carrying the weapons in spaces including squares, airports, educational institutions, restaurants and municipal transport.

In addition, repeated offences will result in criminal charges, instead of administrative liability.

Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze listed statistics of murder cases throughout the country within the last nine months in discussions of the bill at the lawmaking body.

The figures presented by the official showed 53 percent of the murders had been committed using melee weapons.