According to the statement, Ioseliani assesses as problematic the 2025 amendments made to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia, and the Criminal Code of Georgia.

The statement notes that the norms are vague, their contested normative content does not meet the requirement of legal foreseeability, and they are contrary to the constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly and expression.

“The Public Defender of Georgia has assessed as problematic the legislative amendments adopted in 2025, which were introduced to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia, and the Criminal Code of Georgia.

On January 20, 2026, the Public Defender filed a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court challenging the restrictions and liability provisions related to the conduct of assemblies and demonstrations. Among other substantive restrictions and sanctions, the complaint challenges provisions related to standing on sidewalks, which prohibit participants from deliberately creating obstacles to pedestrian or traffic movement and from artificially blocking roads used by vehicles or pedestrians.

The Public Defender considers these norms vague and believes their content does not meet the requirement of legal clarity and is contrary to constitutionally guaranteed freedom of assembly and expression.

It should be noted that the Public Defender also issued a public statement regarding the legislative provision prohibiting the artificial blocking of pedestrian routes. According to the Public Defender’s assessment, it is not clearly foreseeable under what circumstances expressing protest on a sidewalk may constitute a legitimate basis for restricting rights, especially considering that exercising this right typically occurs for a short period of time.

In addition, the Public Defender submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Tbilisi Court of Appeals in cases concerning the recognition of assembly participants as offenders for obstructing pedestrian movement on sidewalks, providing information on relevant human rights standards.

The Public Defender is monitoring the situation regarding full enjoyment of the right to freedom of assembly and calls on relevant authorities not to restrict the rights of participants in peaceful assemblies,” the statement reads.