The newly created Division for Combating Hate Speech has begun its operation within the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the m Ministry of Internal Affairs the main functions and duties of the Department will be to monitor and proactively detect publicly disseminated statements that violate human dignity/insult and contain hate speech, which contain signs of a violation of the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia.

The Division will identify the alleged violator, establish his identity, prepare materials for administrative proceedings, draw up a protocol of administrative offenses and, in compliance with the rules of adjudication, send them to common courts.

At the initial stage, the number of employees of the Division has been determined at ten.

"The Division’s employees will carry out their activities within the framework of the legislative framework already in force in the country," reads the information.