Voter May Be Imprisoned for Three Years if Accepts Any Property, Money or Promise

A voter may be imprisoned for three years if she/he accepts any property, money and promise for political purposes.

Yesterday, the Parliament passed amendment to the Criminal Code of Georgia and it was published on the official website of the Legislative Herald. The amendments will go in force in 15 days.

According to the new provision, bribery of a voter is punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to three years; however the provision does not work only for bribers but for bribed people too.

Namely, according to the new regulation, offering, promising and giving money, services or other benefit of any kind directly or indirectly “for the political purposes” or making any sham deals “for a purpose of evading restrictions” set by the law will be punishable with a fine or imprisonment for up to three years.

The issue was discussed in parallel to strict critic from the NGOs. They cannot understand how it will be regulated and who shall estimate the “political purpose” and whether a voter accepted a property and/or promise for political purpose and preliminary cognition”. The law clarifies that a voter is not bribed if he receives accessories of a PR campaign of any political party – like skirts, caps, hats, flags and other items.

Interpresnews