According to the Public Defender's assessment, the legislative amendments presented in Parliament may come into conflict both with international standards for the protection of freedom of expression and with the Constitution of Georgia, and may create the possibility of excessively broad interpretation of the established restrictions, – this is stated in a release issued by the Public Defender's Office in connection with the ongoing legislative process in Parliament. This process involves consideration of amendments initiated to 7 legislative acts, including the Law of Georgia “On Grants,” the Criminal Code of Georgia, the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, and the Organic Law of Georgia “On Political Associations of Citizens.”

The Public Defender's statement notes that the Ombudsman will evaluate the legislative amendments finally adopted by Parliament and, if the relevant preconditions exist, will apply to the Constitutional Court of Georgia with a lawsuit.

“As became known to the public today during the committee hearing, after the first reading certain changes were introduced into the legislative package and the list of punishable acts was further expanded. In particular, according to widespread information, the act of ‘extremism against the constitutional order of Georgia’ is being declared criminally punishable.

In the Public Defender's opinion, the presented legislative amendments may come into conflict both with international standards for the protection of freedom of expression and with the Constitution of Georgia, and may create the possibility of excessively broad interpretation of the established restrictions.

Accordingly, the Public Defender of Georgia will assess the legislative amendments finally approved by Parliament and, in case the relevant preconditions exist, will file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court of Georgia,” – the statement reads.