Here’s a rewritten version of the article in simple language, using paragraphs:
**Social Justice Center Criticizes Georgia’s Administrative Offenses Code**
The Social Justice Center (SJC) is calling for a complete overhaul of Georgia’s Administrative Offenses Code. They say that the current law goes against international standards and puts people’s freedom at risk.
**Severe Penalties Without Fair Guarantees**
The SJC argues that administrative offenses can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines. However, individuals facing these charges do not have the same legal guarantees as those accused in criminal cases. They don’t benefit from protections like the presumption of innocence or the requirement to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
**Arbitrary Decisions by Authorities**
The SJC also points out that some offenses are vaguely defined, leading to arbitrary decisions by authorities. For example, the offense of petty hooliganism includes behaviors like swearing in public or insulting others, but does not require a significant disruption of public order.
**Vague Language in New Rules**
A new rule criminalizing insulting public officials contains vague language that makes it difficult to define what constitutes an “insult”. The SJC stresses that according to international standards, a minor violation of public order during the exercise of freedom of assembly or expression should not give rise to legal liability.
**Detention Mechanism Criticized**
The SJC criticizes the administrative detention mechanism, noting that the law does not always specify when detention is necessary and gives the police too much power to arrest people without solid justification. This leads to unfair arrests, especially during peaceful protests.
**Outdated Terms and Definitions**
The SJC also notes that the Code of Administrative Offenses, adopted in 1984, contains outdated terms and definitions that are not appropriate for modern legal systems. The structure of the law is also inconsistent, with violations grouped together in a way that is not always logical.
**Call for Reform**
The Social Justice Center is calling on the government to reform the Administrative Offenses Code to make it more fair and transparent. They want to ensure that individuals facing administrative charges have the same legal guarantees as those accused in criminal cases.
**Read More**
For more information, please visit: civil.ge