Criminal liability for breaches of the election legislation

Criminal Code of Georgia

Article 139. Impediments to the citizens’ participation in elections, referendums or plebiscites, or to the citizens’ ability to use their other political or labour rights.

Placing obstacles to the citizens’ participation in elections, referendums or plebiscites, or to the citizens’ ability to use their other political or labour rights, by means of deceive, bribery, menace, force or other ways, shall be liable to up to three years’ imprisonment, or up to two years’ corrective labour, or to a fine - up to 3,000 GEL.

If committed with the use of firearms or sidearms, or other weapons, as well as with damage or destruction of citizens’ property, the same offence shall be liable to imprisonment - from three to eight years.

If resulted in casualties or other serious outcome, the offence stipulated in the first and the second part of the given article shall be liable to imprisonment - from eight to twelve years.

Article 139¹. Distribution of rumours offending honour and dignity of candidates to the parliament or other representative bodies, parties running elections or initiative groups to organise a referendum.

Deliberate distribution of rumours offending honour and dignity of candidates to the parliament or other representative bodies, parties running elections or initiative groups to organise a referendum, shall be liable to up to two years’ imprisonment, or up to two years’ corrective labour, or a fine - up to 1,000 GEL.

If committed with the use of the press or other mass media, the same offence shall be liable to up to four years’ imprisonment,

or up to two years’ corrective labour, or a fine - up to 2,000 GEL.

Article 140. Falsification of election, referendum or plebiscite documents, or incorrect calculation of votes.

Falsification of election, referendum or plebiscite documents, or incorrect calculation of votes, as well as violation of the secrecy of the ballot, committed by a member of the election commission or other official, shall be liable to up to two years’ imprisonment, or up to two years’ corrective labour, or a fine - up to 5,000 GEL.