Okhanashvili Explains When 6 Years in Prison will be Used as Punishment

"We have not tightened anything and we will not use the recently adopted amendments under the current state of emergency," Anri Okhanashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, said while explaining the amendments adopted by the Parliament yesterday.

He noted that under the current state of emergency, repeated violation of quarantine and isolation rules will be punishable by up to 3 years in prison.

He also explained when persons will be sentenced to 6 years in prison.

"Certain groups have tried to mislead the public, as if the Georgian Parliament has increased the sanction to 6 years in prison and as if this sanction will be used from now on.

"This is misinformation. I would like to clarify that the decree of the President of Georgia is in force today. We will not use the recently adopted amendments under the current state of emergency. The presidential decree provides for imprisonment up to 3 years and it shall be applied in case of the repeated violation of the administrative law.

"As for the amendments, I would like to explain to the public that we have made changes to the Criminal Code that concerns not only the violation of the state of emergency, but the martial regime as well, and the changes provide for responsibility of up to 6 years in prison in case of repeated violation”, the MP said.

Related Story: Repeated Violation of State of Emergency to be Punished by 6 Years in Prison