A bill of amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia aims to make punishment for animal cruelty and torture stricter, with the Parliament set to review the suggestions within accelerated timeframes.
Proposed by four MPs of the ruling Georgian Dream party, the bill has been drafted in response to the “increasing cases of mistreatment of animals”, its authors said.
If approved, it would bring consequences for offences leading to maiming of animals to a range between a fine, community work for between 120 and 240 hours, house arrest for between six months and a year, or imprisonment by up to two years.
The punishment for the same offence but involving aggravated circumstances of being committed by a group, perpetrated in public or a multitude of times, carried out in presence of minors or towards two or more animals will involve a range between a fine, house arrest for between one to two years, or imprisonment by between one to three years.
For torture, cruel treatment and other violent acts leading to death of animals, the stricter responses will involve a range between a fine, house arrest for between one to two years or imprisonment by between one to three years. The above aggravating circumstances will lead to the increase of the punishment to a range between a fine, house arrest by between one to two years, or imprisonment by between two to four years.