Rules for mass actions in Georgia tightened to intimidate protestors

The ban on wearing masks at protest actions violates freedom of expression and the Constitution of Georgia. Many demonstrators wear masks for fear of reprisals, and increasing fines for violating the ban is aimed at intimidating protesters, public organizations emphasize.

The “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” (GYLA) non-governmental organization (NGO) criticized the country’s authorities for changing the law prohibiting protesters from covering their faces with masks in places of street gatherings, setting a fine of 2000 laris (757 US dollars) for the violation of the ban.

“It is understandable that participants of a peaceful protest action try to remain unrecognized in order to avoid unlawful reprisals and protect themselves from those chemical irritants, the composition of which the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) does not disclose and which law enforcers use illegally,” activists of the NGO claimed.

The NGO points out that the ban on wearing masks during gatherings contradicts the Constitution of Georgia and international human rights treaties. The Venice Commission (officially known as European Commission for Democracy through Law) points out that a complete ban on wearing masks during protest actions is a restriction on freedom of assembly. Masks cannot be banned at demonstrations unless there is clear evidence of violence; a person should not be required to remove a mask unless their behaviour provides grounds for arrest.

The “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” (GYLA) notes that the protest actions in Georgia are peaceful, as confirmed by the OSCE and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. However, the groups of people in masks, whom Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called “participants in the counter-action,” are associated with the state, with whose consent they act, as confirmed in its assessment by the “Amnesty International” (AI) human rights organization.