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Georgia

Georgia proscribes terrorism in its Criminal Code with a maximum of life imprisonment for offences that involve homicide. There is no carve-out for the exercise of fundamental human rights. 

Compliance with International Law:
Last updated: one year ago

The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law

Georgia defines terrorism in its Criminal Code as "explosion, arson, application of arms or any other action giving rise to threat of a person’s death, substantial property damage or any other grave consequence and undermines public security, strategic, political or economic interests of the State, perpetrated to intimidate the population or put pressure upon a governmental body".Art. 323(1), Criminal Code of Georgia.

Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties

Georgia is a State Party to all of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.

Adherence to Global Terrorism Treaties
Treaty Adherence
1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons State Party
1979 Hostage-Taking Convention State Party
1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention State Party
1999 Terrorist Financing Convention State Party
2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention State Party

 

Georgia is also a State Party to two of the European treaties on terrorism.

Adherence to Regional Terrorism Treaties
Treaty Adherence
1977 European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism State Party
2003 Protocol amending the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism State Party
2005 Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism Signatory
2015 Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism State not party

The 2003 Protocol has not yet entered into force. 

Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences

The general penalty for a terrorist act is imprisonment of between five and eight years.Art. 323(1), Criminal Code of Georgia.Where an offence is committed repeatedly or uses a weapon of mass destruction, the penalty is raised to between eight and fifteen years.Art. 323(2), Criminal Code of Georgia.Where the offence includes a homicide, the sentence shall be from fifteen to twenty years or life imprisonment.Art. 323(4), Criminal Code of Georgia. 

In 2020, Georgia tried and convicted one Georgian citizen on terrorism charges for his involvement in Islamic State-related activities abroad.

Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level

The State Security Service of Georgia is the law enforcement agency responsible for terrorism-related incidents and investigations. It has specialist counterterrorism expertise in its forces. Georgia does not have a dedicated counterterrorism unit in its national police

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Criminal Code of Georgia (English translation)