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Nino Lomjaria: Demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines, on the grounds of "illegally blocking the roadway" - this is not confirmed in the evidence presented by the police

Nino Lomjaria: Demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines, on the grounds of "illegally blocking the roadway" - this is not confirmed in the evidence presented by the police
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Demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines on the grounds of “illegally blocking the roadway,” while the photo and video evidence provided by the police does not confirm the facts of illegal roadblocks by citizens, Nino Lomjaria, founder of the civic platform “Georgian European Orbit,” stated at a briefing. As Lomjaria noted, the intensity and unjustified nature of the use of fines indicate that its goal is to intimidate citizens participating in the protest, weaken the protest, and create financial problems for the participants of the rally.

According to her, law enforcement agencies, courts, and the Parliament of Georgia are acting in a coordinated manner in implementing the systematic policy of suppressing pro-European protests and restricting freedom of expression.

According to Lomjaria, the evidence presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in court does not confirm specific facts, such as: the time of the alleged violation, the small number of people at the demonstration, whether the protester arrived at the scene before the street was blocked or after it was blocked, and on what grounds a specific person was selected from among the protest participants to issue a fine.

“The police and courts have intensively begun to use the blanket bans on freedom of assembly and expression adopted by the Georgian Dream parliament in December within 5 days against the protest participants, as well as the heavy financial fines increased by 10 and 20 times and imprisonments of up to 15 days for their violation. The police are detaining protest participants for pasting stickers on the fence or covering part of their face, even when the protest participants are identified. Also, demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines on the grounds of “illegally blocking the roadway”, while the photo and video evidence provided by the police does not confirm the facts of illegal roadblocks by citizens - citizens are standing in the crowd or participating in mass public processions.

The practice of disproportionately high fines contradicts international human rights standards, which are also mandatory for Georgia. According to the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, disproportionate sanctions, including severe fines, may violate the right to freedom of assembly and have a chilling effect, which will discourage people wishing to participate in future assemblies and demonstrations from expressing their protest. "In addition, the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly explained that the use of unduly strict sanctions may create a risk of a deterrent effect. The intensity and unjustified nature of the use of fines indicate that its purpose is to intimidate citizens participating in the protest, weaken the protest, and create financial problems for the participants of the rally," said Nino Lomjaria.

Nino Lomjaria: Demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines, on the grounds of "illegally blocking the roadway" - this is not confirmed in the evidence presented by the police

Demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines on the grounds of “illegally blocking the roadway,” while the photo and video evidence provided by the police does not confirm the facts of illegal roadblocks by citizens, Nino Lomjaria, founder of the civic platform “Georgian European Orbit,” stated at a briefing. As Lomjaria noted, the intensity and unjustified nature of the use of fines indicate that its goal is to intimidate citizens participating in the protest, weaken the protest, and create financial problems for the participants of the rally.

According to her, law enforcement agencies, courts, and the Parliament of Georgia are acting in a coordinated manner in implementing the systematic policy of suppressing pro-European protests and restricting freedom of expression.

According to Lomjaria, the evidence presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in court does not confirm specific facts, such as: the time of the alleged violation, the small number of people at the demonstration, whether the protester arrived at the scene before the street was blocked or after it was blocked, and on what grounds a specific person was selected from among the protest participants to issue a fine.

“The police and courts have intensively begun to use the blanket bans on freedom of assembly and expression adopted by the Georgian Dream parliament in December within 5 days against the protest participants, as well as the heavy financial fines increased by 10 and 20 times and imprisonments of up to 15 days for their violation. The police are detaining protest participants for pasting stickers on the fence or covering part of their face, even when the protest participants are identified. Also, demonstrators are being massively and unjustifiably fined with disproportionately high fines on the grounds of “illegally blocking the roadway”, while the photo and video evidence provided by the police does not confirm the facts of illegal roadblocks by citizens - citizens are standing in the crowd or participating in mass public processions.

The practice of disproportionately high fines contradicts international human rights standards, which are also mandatory for Georgia. According to the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, disproportionate sanctions, including severe fines, may violate the right to freedom of assembly and have a chilling effect, which will discourage people wishing to participate in future assemblies and demonstrations from expressing their protest. "In addition, the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly explained that the use of unduly strict sanctions may create a risk of a deterrent effect. The intensity and unjustified nature of the use of fines indicate that its purpose is to intimidate citizens participating in the protest, weaken the protest, and create financial problems for the participants of the rally," said Nino Lomjaria.

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