Bill That Would Have Criminalized ‘Strife-Inciting Calls’ Revised

A bill, drafted by the interior ministry, which caused concerns of human rights and media groups over possible restriction of freedom of expression, has been revised removing a controversial wording criminalizing “calls, inciting strife.”

The government-backed draft of amendments to the criminal code, offering to make “strife-inciting calls” a criminal offense, was first submitted to Parliament for consideration in January.

The initial draft also raised concerns of some lawmakers, including from the Georgian Dream ruling coalition, which led to setting up of a working group at the parliamentary committee for legal affairs, made up of MPs and the interior ministry officials.

The working group tabled revised bill, which was discussed by the legal affairs committee on April 7.

The revised draft, if approved by the Parliament, will criminalize “calls for violent actions” aimed at causing discord between racial, religious, national, ethnic, social, linguistic or other groups.

The revised bill also specifies that criminal punishment should only be applied if such calls pose direct and obvious threat.

Presenting the revised bill at the parliamentary committee for legal affairs, deputy interior minister Levan Izoria acknowledged that the initial draft was ambiguous, subject to interpretations.

At the session on April 7 the parliamentary committee for legal affairs approved the revised bill to be discussed with its first hearing by the parliament session.

GD MP Tamar Kordzaia, who opposed the initial draft, said the revised one removes “risks that we were concerned of.” The revised draft has also been supported by opposition lawmaker from Free Democrats party Shalva Shavgulidze. UNM opposition lawmakers were not present as they boycott committee meetings in Tbilisi in protest against partial relocation of the parliament from Kutaisi to the capital city.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)