First fines were reported over “insults” and “petty hooliganism” against both a Georgian Dream official and an opposition figure as the Interior Ministry’s newly established unit tasked with monitoring “hate speech” in public reported submitting up to 60 cases to courts since the start of operation on June 1.
In both cases, the court reportedly issued rulings without hearing the position of those subject to “insults.”
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said on June 15 that seven of up to 60 cases have already resulted in rulings, while preparatory hearings have been scheduled in 30 cases. The announcement comes as first two fines were reported over alleged “insults” against Georgian Dream lawmaker Nino Tsilosani and opposition Ahali party leader Nika Gvaramia, with the later saying that he was unaware of the proceedings.
On June 15, lawyer Shota Tutberidze said that he was fined GEL 4,000 [USD 1,500] by Tbilisi City Court in one of the “hate-speech division” cases after being found guilty of insulting Tsilosani. The case reportedly refers to Tutberidze’s Facebook comment posted on June 2 on a Facebook post by Tsilosani, who was visiting Canada at the time.
Tutberidze was fined under Article17316, which covers insulting a public official and is punishable by a fine from GEL 1,500 to GEL 4,000 or administrative detention of up to 45 days.
Tutberidze told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Georgian service that the court was unaware of Tsilosani’s stance. He said the defence asked the court “how can an act of insult be established if you do not find out whether someone felt offended, especially Nino Tsilosani, who was neither interviewed nor questioned?”
Against initial reports that the fine against Tutberidze was the first ruling in the cases launched by the division, the Interior Ministry said that first actual judgment was delivered on June 12 by the Oni Magistrate Court.
In a separate case, it was reported on June 16 that a person, Giorgi Gedenidze, was fined GEL 2,000 [USD 755] for “petty hooliganism” as part of similar proceedings for allegedly writing an offensive comment about opposition Ahali party leader Nika Gvaramia on June 3 on a social media post of pro-government Imedi TV channel. Gvaramia wrote on Facebook that he learned about the ruling from media, and that he was unaware of both Gedenidze’s identity and the fact of the offense.
“If I am not offended, is it that the state ‘protects’ my dignity without my position?” Gvaramia asked, adding, “It wasn’t enough that they fine me and arrest me and now I have to worry about others being fined because of me.”
MIA told Civil.ge that Gedenidze was fined under Article 166 of the Administrative Offence Code, which covers petty hooliganism” and includes “swearing in a public space, offensive targetting of citizens, and other similar acts that disturb public order and/or citizens’ peace.” The Ministry said that the article does not require a complaint from a citizen for authorities to respond.
The offence is punishable by a fine from GEL 500 to GEL 3,000 or administrative detention of up to 20 days.
The Division for Combating Hate Speech began operating on June 1 with an initial staff of ten people within the ministry’s Human Rights Protection Department.
The division is tasked with monitoring and proactively identifying publicly disseminated statements that allegedly violate human dignity, contain insults, or constitute hate speech under Georgia’s Administrative Offenses Code.
The unit is also responsible for identifying alleged offenders, establishing their identities, preparing administrative case materials, drafting offense reports, and referring cases to courts in accordance with jurisdictional rules.
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