Police investigates rally held against temporal removal of ban on sale of lands to foreigners

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs is investigating a rally and its consequences which is underway at the Tbilisi Justice House triggered by the 7 December verdict of the Georgian Constitutional Court which temporarily removed the ban on the sale of agricultural lands to foreign nationals.

Protesters, which include opposition members, nationalist groups and a lawmaker from the Alliance of Patriots opposition, are not allowing people that do not look like Georgians to enter the Justice House.

They say that the individuals might be foreigners who wish to register lands in Georgia.

The Interior Ministry is investigating the incident as a criminal case of ethnic discrimination, which is punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Several of the rally organisers and participants have been summoned for questioning.

Georgian Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani have called upon the public and addressed the protestors not to create problems for up to 10,000 people who visit the Justice House daily to receive dozens of important services.

Tsulukiani said that given that no foreign residents filed an application yesterday to register agricultural lands in Georgia, the protest is meaningless.

The Georgian Constitutional Court partially removed a ban on the sale of Georgian agricultural lands and annulled a moratorium declared by the Georgian government back in 2017.

The verdict was delivered after two citizens of Greece filed against the moratorium as they were not able to register their inherited lands in Georgia.

Only individuals, not companies, are allowed until 16 December to register agricultural lands in Georgia, as on the day a new Georgian constitution comes into play which prohibits the sale of agricultural lands to foreign citizens and companies.