Georgian media, rights groups say bill would stifle free expression
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 27 January 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgian media, rights groups say bill would stifle free expression, 27 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a43f6.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 27, 2015
By RFE/RL's Georgian Service
TBILISI – Twenty Georgian media freedom and human rights groups joined more than a dozen news outlets in condemning a government-proposed bill criminalizing "strife-inciting calls."
In a joint statement issued on January 26, the news and rights organizations warned that the bill poses the "risk of unreasonably restricting freedom of expression and stifling criticism."
The bill, drafted by the Interior Ministry, that "calls inciting strife, i.e. public calls for violent actions, made verbally, in written or through other forms of expression and aimed at causing enmity or discord between racial, religious, national, ethnic, social, linguistic or other groups, shall be punished with imprisonment from 2 to 5 years."
It was submitted to Parliament last week and it has yet to be debated.
Opponents warned that the "ambiguity" of the wording oin the proposed law would leave it open to broad interpretation and selective enforcement.
With reporting by civil.ge
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
