Ruling party official highlights importance of amendments to law on protests
Kaladze said “the bill in question is not our invention - many developed European countries have similar laws”. Photo: Georgian Dream press office
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Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Mayor of Tbilisi, on Sunday highlighted the importance of the bill approved by lawmakers to limit installation of constructions during public rallies.
The Parliament approved the bill - which bans setting up of constructions if they “pose threats to demonstrators or other individuals”, hamper police efforts to “ensure order”, interferes with work of institutions, organisations or other facilities - with its third and final reading on October 5, before President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed it for its “undemocratic nature”.
The bill in question is not our invention - many developed European countries have similar laws - and therefore, given that there are still some threats that certain groups may attempt to create tension and disorder [in the country], preventive measures are needed”, Kaladze said.
“It is clear that whoever opposes this [bill], can in fact be said to be leaders of the radical course that the State Security Service of Georgia was talking about”, he added in reference to comments by the body that last month said it had uncovered a plan by former officials of the previous United National Movement Government to cause “civil unrest” and overthrow the country’s Government using a “Euromaidan scenario” this fall.
The party Secretary General claimed there were domestic political groups and politicians who “have a desire to overthrow the Government, and some may even support it from the outside”, before adding the authorities would “not allow this” alleged scenario to take place.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili had “already declared she is backing a revolution” in the country, and alleged those opposing the recent bill limiting installation of constructions during public rallies were “looking for unrest in the country”.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday signed a decree terminating the citizenship of the United States-sanctioned former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze, as well as vetoed the amendments to the law of Georgia on Assemblies and Manifestations, the Presidential Administration said.
Givi Mikanadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Education and Science Committee, on Thursday said amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, on review by the legislative body, were focused on the “protection of human life” and “in no way” restricted “peaceful assembly and demonstrations”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday commented on the draft amendments to the law of Georgia on Assemblies and Manifestations and said “it is our obligation to prevent unrest” in the country both at the legislative and practical levels, as “revolutionary” actions were planned this fall.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the adoption of the recent amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which extends the power of the National Communications Commission in regulating hate speech and incitement to terrorism, had been a “demand of the European Union”.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights this week disapproved of the bill proposed by the Georgian Dream ruling party in September to limit erection of temporary constructions during rallies as “disproportionate”, with a potential “chilling effect on the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly”.