OGFD Appeals Constitutional Court over Police Stop-and-Frisk Powers
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2 Nov.'10 / 11:33

Our Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD) opposition party appealed the Constitutional Court requesting to rule that police stop-and-frisk powers are a breach of human rights.

On September 24, 2010 the Georgian Parliament adopted amendment to the law on police, which gives police officers right to stop a person on the street and to frisk the outer clothing if officer has "a reasonable suspicion" that criminal activity is afoot.

According to the law, a person can be stopped by a policeman for "a reasonable time period" required for allaying police suspicion. If the surface search results into further suspicion, police officer will then conduct a full-blown search, according to the law.

OGFD claims that new rules are subject to abuse as the amended law does not specify exact circumstances in which the police can resort to stop-and-frisk practice. OGFD said the new rules violate liberty of an individual guaranteed by the article 18 of the Constitution and its leader, Irakli Alasania, said on November 1, that the new rules demonstrate the authorities “irresponsible” stance towards the human rights.

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