Latest news with #SabaBrachveli
JAMnews
2 days ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
'What's stopping us from calling it treason?' — opinion on Georgian Dream's response to OSCE criticism
Georgian Dream did not recognize the Portuguese Declaration The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Portuguese Declaration, which, among other issues, addresses Syria's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia – regions that, for the vast majority of UN member states, remain Georgian territories occupied by Russia. However, the chairman of Georgia's one-party parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that the parliament and the ruling Georgian Dream party did not support the resolution. This comes as no surprise, considering that in addition to reaffirming support for Georgia's territorial integrity, the declaration also criticizes Georgian Dream for its anti-democratic policies and its departure from the path of European integration. So far, only five UN member states have recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including Syria, which did so in 2018 after the then Syrian government made a complete turn toward Russia. The policy of non-recognition of the independence of these territories has remained one of Georgia's main diplomatic priorities for many years. Some Georgian experts believe that now, with the change of government in Syria, Tbilisi has a unique opportunity to demand the withdrawal of recognition. But is it ready to seize this opportunity? Lawyer Saba Brachveli reflects on this. Saba Brachveli: 'Georgia has no diplomatic relations with Syria because Syria recognizes the independence of the occupied territories. At the moment, after the overthrow of the previous government, Syria is undergoing a global reset of its international relations, which gives us the best chance to secure the withdrawal of recognition. Opposition parties have jointly appealed to the new Syrian authorities with such a request. What 'Georgian Dream' is doing in this regard (if anything at all) remains unknown. On July 3, the OSCE adopted a declaration that, on one hand, calls on Syria to recognize Georgia's territorial integrity, and on the other hand, urges 'Georgian Dream' to release political prisoners, hold repeat parliamentary elections, and stop hostile rhetoric toward the European Union. [Parliament Speaker] Shalva Papuashvili stated that the Georgian delegation, consisting of members of Georgian Dream, does not support this declaration. In other words, they did not back the most prominent and influential demand for Syria to recognize our territorial integrity. This raises questions: What do we call those who put their personal and party interests above the interests of the homeland? What do we call those for whom the arrest of innocent people is more important than the return of occupied territories? What prevents us from calling this treason?' News in Georgia
Civil.ge
4 days ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Failure to Pay Protest Fines to Lead to Detention for Repeat Acts
Individuals who fail to pay fines for four administrative offenses — petty hooliganism, disobeying police, insulting public officials, and violating protest rules such as blocking roads or wearing face coverings — will be sent to detention if they repeat the offenses. These offenses are among the most commonly cited against demonstrators participating in anti–Georgian Dream protests. The rule changes are part of amendments to Georgia's Code of Administrative Offenses, passed by the Georgian Dream parliament on July 2, following two days of accelerated deliberations during extraordinary sessions. Fines for these offenses vary and increase with repeated violations, but generally range around GEL 5,000 (about USD 1,800). If an individual fails to pay a previous fine and is found guilty of the same offense again, the court will no longer have the option to impose another fine and will be required to order detention. The maximum administrative detention period in Georgia is 60 days, extended from 15 days in February. The amendments also change the appeals process for fines. Instead of appealing to the Interior Ministry, individuals must now appeal directly to the courts. Some say the change will ease the ministry's workload — particularly the large number of appeals over road blockage fines — but will add pressure on the judiciary. The Ministry of Internal Affairs was given authority to impose fines for administrative offenses in February. Since then, citizens have been appealing these fines directly to the ministry. 'If the accounting and backlog of fines was the MIA's job before, now the review of administrative offenses will fall to seven judges,' lawyer Saba Brachveli wrote on Facebook, suggesting the state system is shifting the burden onto the courts to handle a growing caseload. 'Those of you who have appealed to the Interior Ministry and have not yet received a response, this new rule will apply to your cases as well,' lawyer Nika Simonishvili said in a Facebook post. He added, 'The Interior Ministry will no longer review your appeal, and all these cases will be sent to the court 10 days after the law comes into force.' Although the exact number is unknown, media estimates suggest hundreds have been fined for blocking roads since protests began on November 28, 2024, after the Georgian Dream government announced it was abandoning the country's EU accession process. The ongoing resistance has since blocked Tbilisi's main Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament building daily for more than seven months now. The fine for road blockage was GEL 500 before December, until the Georgian Dream parliament increased it tenfold to GEL 5,000 (about USD 1,800), more than twice the average monthly income in Georgia. In mid-March, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, a human rights group, said road blockage fines since November 28 stood at GEL 2 million (about USD 715,000). Watchdog groups have widely criticized the hefty fines as a repressive tool used by the government to suppress protests. Also Read: This post is also available in: ქართული
Civil.ge
4 days ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Georgian Dream Criminalizes Small Marijuana Possession
The illegal purchase or possession of over five grams of dried marijuana can now be punished by up to six years in prison in Georgia. On July 2, the Georgian Dream parliament rubber-stamped the relevant legislative amendments to the country's Criminal Code, placing marijuana and cannabis possession under the same category as other drugs. During deliberations, GD MP Archil Gorduladze noted that rules regarding consumption remain unchanged. Concerns over stricter laws have grown following the accompanied changes to the Criminal Procedure Code that allow the identities of witnesses involved in covert investigative operations to remain fully secret, even when their testimony could lead to a guilty verdict. Critics fear that the GD is preparing to plant drugs on its opponents, leaving future defendants with fewer chances to prove their innocence. 'This is not about tightening drug policy – it's about preparing the system for mass drug planting,' lawyer Saba Brachveli said in a Facebook post, adding, 'Journalists won't cover it, cameras won't catch it, and now even the defense won't be able to investigate it properly.' Under the new rules, possession of 70 to 250 grams of dried marijuana is punishable by five to eight years in prison. For particularly large quantities — over 250 grams — the sentence can reach 20 years or life. A small quantity is defined as five to 70 grams of dried marijuana or 10 to 140 grams of raw marijuana. The amendments also remove a clause that had excluded marijuana and cannabis from the list of substances triggering similar prison sentences for illegal manufacturing, production, transportation, or distribution. Marijuana and cannabis now fall under those provisions as well. Sowing, planting, and cultivating cannabis will carry relatively smaller prison terms. The changes come as Georgian Dream tightens its drug policy as part of its 'uncompromised' fight against drug dealers. The one-party parliament on July 2 also banned private entities from carrying out opioid replacement therapies and importing psychotropic drugs into the country. Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly defined a small quantity of dried marijuana as up to five grams. The correct range for a small quantity is from five to 70 grams. Also Read: This post is also available in: ქართული
