What the Law on Rallies Says
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 25 May.'11 / 22:13

Likelihood of a clash with the police increased as the protesters show no sign of accepting the Tbilisi municipality’s offer to relocate their protest from the Rustaveli Avenue to other location.

According to the law on rallies and manifestations, organizers of a rally should notify local authorities on their intention to hold the demonstration if the planned event requires blocking of traffic.
 
In case protesters plan to block a street, organizers of a rally have simply to notify about their intention to the local municipality in advance and the municipality can reject the notification if some other event is already planned at the same venue indicated by organizers.

Prior to the launch of the ongoing rallies, the People’s Assembly notified Tbilisi Mayor’s Office that it was intending to hold rallies from May 21 till the end of May 25.

According to the same law blocking of a street is only allowed if the number of protesters is large enough and holding of a rally requires space on traffic lanes.

According to the same law, during the protest rally it is prohibited to block streets “artificially” and “deliberately” either by protesters themselves or with “various types of constructions and/or objects.”
 
If these provisions of the law are violated, the law says, an authorized representative of a local self-governance body should appeal with a request to unblock roadway.

“Organizers of the assembly or manifestation are obliged obey this demand and put assembly or manifestation within the framework of the established norms,” the law reads.

The law says that relevant authorities are authorized to secure ceasing of an assembly or a manifestation, which is being held in violation of the law.

Civil.Ge © 2001-2024