Administrative imprisonment term slashed

The maximum term for administrative imprisonment is set to be reduced from 90 days to 15 days.

The Human Rights Committee of Parliament will today discuss the following amendment in Georgia’s Code of Administrative Violations.

Head of Human Rights Committee, Eka Beselia, said the reduced sentence would cover all aspects of administrative violations, including drug offences.

"According to the changes in the Administrative Code, we want to reduce the administrative detainment period to 15 days. The 90-day limit was adopted by the previous government, by which they were arresting opposition activates and were punishing them strictly. This certainly does not come in line with the international standards,” Beselia said.

As well as the reduced sentence, other changes mean police will now be obliged to explain the reasons of an arrest to the detainee and give the person the right to make one phone call.