Important Changes Adopted by Parliament of Georgia: Concerns Raised by Public Defender
The Parliament of Georgia has recently adopted several important legislative changes. However, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, has expressed concerns that some of these changes do not meet human rights standards.
According to the Public Defender’s statement, the legislative process was rushed and did not involve the interested public or relevant specialists. This is seen as damaging to the legislative process and not welcome.
Changes Made to Public Service Law
One of the changes made to the Law of Georgia “On Public Service” affects those who were dismissed from public service due to reorganization. The new law takes away their right to request reinstatement, putting them in an unequal position with officials dismissed on other grounds.
Additionally, amendments have been made to allow the head of a primary structural unit and his deputy to be appointed through an administrative contract rather than being considered professional civil servants. This reduces the guarantees of labor rights for these individuals and contradicts principles of civil service such as career progression, merit, and stability.
Restrictions on Wearing Masks During Demonstrations
The law has also been amended to ban wearing masks during demonstrations. While this is a common restriction in some Western countries, it’s generally understood that this prohibition should not be unconditional or blanket. The legislation aims to strike a balance between freedom of expression and security interests.
Increased Fines for Administrative Violations
Changes have been made to the “Code of Administrative Violations”, significantly increasing fines for individual violations and imposing additional administrative imprisonment in some cases. This may put a heavy burden on individuals, especially considering Georgia’s financial situation.
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