TBILISI, August 9 – A planned Georgian law to protect national values is drawing warnings that it could restrict criticism of public figures, writers and other cultural icons.
The package, whose exact wording has not been specified, is expected to be introduced when parliament begins its autumn session. Georgian Dream lawmaker Archil Gorduladze said work on the legislation had already started after consultations with Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
Gorduladze said the initiative would address what the ruling party describes as attacks on the Georgian Orthodox Church, religious communities and national values.
The move follows the creation of several civic initiative groups in late July calling for stronger legal protection of the church, religious sanctities, historical heroes and Georgian traditions.
Analysts Vakhtang Dzabiradze told Rezonansi it was too early to know what Georgian Dream would define as a national value, but warned that the measure could become another restriction on speech.
He said the law might begin with protection of historical figures, writers and cultural icons, but could later be used against critics of contemporary political figures.
Dzabiradze argued that the most likely targets would be government opponents.
Analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze, meanwhile, said the legislation would probably focus on public insults directed at key figures and works of Georgian culture, literature and religion, with the church likely to receive particular protection.
Sakvarelidze also rejected claims that the ruling party needed such a law to suppress the opposition. He argued that Georgian Dream’s political position was strong enough that it did not need extraordinary measures against rivals.
