Georgia plans to criminalize disobedience to police

Georgian parliamentarians have begun considering amendments to the Criminal Code that would make disobeying law enforcement orders grounds for criminal prosecution in certain cases.

Under the proposed legislation, disobedience will be recognized as a criminal offense if the offender has previously been held administratively liable under this article. Resisting police actions will also carry potential imprisonment.

The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to two years, although the sentence may vary depending on the severity of the offense.

It is noted that the amendment will apply to all law enforcement agencies, meaning disobeying the orders of military personnel or members of the state security services will also be a crime.

Official statistics from Georgia's Interior Ministry indicate nearly 1,600 recorded cases of police disobedience during the year's first half.