Georgia to tighten sanctions against use of non-Georgian language in advertising

Public advertisements in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi must always contain Georgian language text, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said.

Those who violate the Law of Georgia on Advertising and use only non-Georgian language inscriptions on the facades of their buildings or on billboards will be fined.

"Today I have ordered the Supervision Service to give instructions to the owners of certain buildings and give them a reasonable amount of time to make amendments," Agenda.ge cited Kaladze as saying.

The mayor urged everyone to do business in compliance with the laws and respect the Georgian language.

Throughout Georgia, inscriptions on signboards shall be made in the official language – this is one of the general requirements for advertising in Georgia and is determined by the Law of Georgia on Advertising.

The Law says that inscriptions may also be made in a foreign language, if desired. An inscription made in a foreign language must not exceed the size of the inscription made in Georgian.