Georgian Parliament Approves “Treason” Clause
The Georgian Parliament has approved the reintroduction of a “treason” clause in the country’s Criminal Code. This was done with 83 votes in favor.
The new law will make it clear what acts are considered treasonous. These include:
* Violating Georgia‘s borders
* Making deals that are not allowed by the constitution
* Weakening Georgia’s defenses
* Spying on the government
* Planning a coup to overthrow the government
* Helping a foreign country or organization that wants to harm Georgia
It’s worth noting that all these acts are already punished under other laws in the Criminal Code. The authors of the bill say they are just making it clear what treason means.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Rati Ionatamishvili, said the new law is based on a definition used by Georgia’s first president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, in 1991.
Members of the Georgian Dream faction and the People’s Power group introduced this bill.