TBILISI, DFWatch – Family violence may become a crime in Georgia.

Systematic physical, psychological violence or force by one family member against another, which causes physical, psychological or moral pain or suffering for the victim, will be punished by a fine or up to six months of community service or forced labor, deprivation of freedom by up to one year or up to three years in jail.

If the family violence causes death, it is to be punished by from three to seven years in jail.

Initiator of the law is member of parliament for the ruling National Movement party Rusudan Kervalishvili, who suggests adding a new article to the criminal law.

A family member is defined as mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, husband or wife, children, subsidiary/affiliate, step children, adopter, husband or wife of adopter, step, host family, grandchildren, sister, brother, parents of husband or wife, daughter in law, son in law, ex-husband or wife, person in non-official marriage and their family members and guardian.

Parliament hasn’t started to review the new bill yet.