If you are few, you should express your protest accordingly; if you are many, you can block streets, avenues, everything - but 50, 100, or even 150 people cannot impose their will on 4 million people, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze said while speaking about the planned amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations.

According to Kobakhidze, “all laws that have been adopted or initiated in the Georgian Parliament are based on this logic.”

“To generalize: if you are few, you should express your protest in line with that. If you are many, you can block streets, avenues, everything - but 50, 100, or even 150 people cannot impose their will on 4 million people. It’s simple. Every law that has been adopted or initiated in Parliament is based on this logic.

However, the obligation to issue a warning is provided by the Constitution and legislation, and it has always existed - not only in our country but in others as well. Depending on circumstances, an agency may require that an assembly be held elsewhere, and so on. This is aligned with international standards, with the standards of all countries. These are international standards endorsed by the Strasbourg Court.

Therefore, every law we adopt is adopted with Strasbourg case law in mind, with international practice in mind. We do not work any other way.

What concerns us is that 150 people are using force against 4 million people. We are responsible before 4 million people to protect their interests. It’s simple,” Kobakhidze stated.

For reference, the amendments introduce a requirement for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to issue a prior warning if an assembly or demonstration is held in an area designated for pedestrian movement. In addition, similar to road closures, it will become prohibited to artificially block pedestrian areas if the number of participants does not necessitate it. It will also be prohibited to block pedestrian zones using vehicles, various structures, or objects.