On the Elimination of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, and the Protection of and Assistance to Victims of Violence
Text of the document
📑 Contents (35 articles)
Law of Georgia
On the Elimination of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, and the Protection of and Assistance to Victims of Violence
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 - website, 25.05.2017.
Article 1. Scope of Regulation of the Law🔗
1. This Law defines the set of acts characteristic of violence against women and/or domestic violence in public or private life, the legal and organizational bases for the detection and elimination of violence, as well as guarantees of social and legal protection of and assistance to victims.
2. This Law, taking into account the specificities established by this Law, also applies to relations in which the constitutional rights and freedoms of a minor are violated by neglect and/or physical, psychological, economic, sexual violence or coercion.
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 - website, 12.07.2016.
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 - website, 25.05.2017.
Article 2. Purpose of the Law🔗
The purpose of this Law is:
a) ensuring, through recognition of the legal equality of family members, the creation of legislative guarantees for the protection of their rights and freedoms, physical and psychological inviolability, and family values;
a¹) ensuring the creation of legislative guarantees for the protection of women's rights and freedoms, and their physical, psychological, sexual and economic inviolability;
b) creating effective legislative mechanisms for the detection, elimination and prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence;
c) creating a system for ensuring access to justice for victims;
d) creating the bases for the protection, assistance and rehabilitation of victims;
e) ensuring cooperation between various institutions for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence and for combating violence;
f) ensuring the promotion of the implementation of measures aimed at correcting the attitudes and behaviour of perpetrators.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 - website, 25.05.2017.
Article 3. Domestic Violence🔗
Domestic violence means the violation by one family member of the constitutional rights and freedoms of another by neglect and/or physical, psychological, economic, sexual violence or coercion.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 - website, 31.10.2014.
Article 3¹. Violence against Women🔗
1. Violence against women implies all acts characteristic of violence committed against women in public or private life on grounds of intolerance of equality between women and men, which result or may result in infliction of physical, psychological or sexual suffering or economic damage to women, including the threat of committing such acts, coercion of women or arbitrary deprivation of liberty for them.
2. For the purposes of this Law, a female minor under 18 years of age shall also be considered a woman.
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 - website, 25.05.2017.
Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 432 - website, 04.04.2025.
Article 4. Definition of terms used in the Law🔗
The terms used in this Law have the following meaning:
a) Physical violence – beating, torture, damage to health, unlawful deprivation of liberty or other such action that causes physical pain or suffering; failure to satisfy requirements related to health condition, which causes damage to the victim's health or death;
b) Psychological violence – insult, blackmail, humiliation, threat or other such action that causes infringement of a person's honour and dignity;
c) Coercion – physical or psychological coercion of a person to perform or not to perform an action, the performance of which or abstention from which is his/her right, or to experience influence contrary to his/her will;
d) Sexual violence – sexual intercourse by violence, threat of violence or taking advantage of the victim's helplessness; sexual intercourse or other action of a sexual nature or lewd act against a minor;
e) Economic violence – an action that results in restriction of the right to provision of food, housing and other conditions of normal development, exercise of property and labour rights, as well as use of property in joint ownership and disposal of the due share;
e¹) Neglect of the lawful interests of a minor − failure by a parent (parents), another legal representative and/or another responsible person to satisfy the physical and psychological needs of a minor, failure to protect from danger, restriction of the right to basic education, failure to perform actions necessary for registration of birth, use of medical and other services, if the parent (parents), another legal representative and/or another responsible person has (have) appropriate information and ability and has (have) access to the relevant service;
f) Victim – a woman or a family member whose constitutional rights and freedoms have been violated by neglect and/or physical violence, psychological violence, economic violence, sexual violence or coercion. A minor whose lawful interests have been neglected shall also be considered a victim. For the purposes of the first and second paragraphs and the second sentence of the third paragraph of Article 14 of this Law, Article 14² and subparagraph "i" of the third paragraph and the sixth paragraph of Article 16, a minor shall also be considered a victim who, on the basis of a legal act or a civil law transaction or without them, actually is/stays with another responsible person or any other person who has violated his/her constitutional rights and freedoms by neglect and/or physical violence, psychological violence, sexual violence, economic violence or coercion, and who has been separated from the abuser by a social worker in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia. A child who is a witness to violence shall also be considered a victim;
f¹) (removed - 22 December 2022, No. 2477);
g) Family member – for the purposes of this law, mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, spouse, a person in an unregistered marriage, child (stepchild), foster child, foster carer (foster mother, foster father), stepmother, stepfather, grandchild, sister, brother, spouse's parent, parent of a person in an unregistered marriage, child's spouse (including one in an unregistered marriage), former spouse, a person formerly in an unregistered marriage, guardian, curator, supporter, a person under guardianship and curatorship, recipient of support, as well as persons who permanently run or ran a single family household;
g¹) Other responsible person – a person (except for the persons provided for by subparagraph „g“ of this article) with whom, on the basis of a legal act or a civil-law transaction, a minor is actually located/lives, and on whom the obligation to care for that minor and to protect his/her lawful interests was imposed on the basis of the same legal act or civil-law transaction;
g²) Social worker – a social worker determined by the child protection referral procedures;
h) Abuser – a family member who violates the constitutional rights and freedoms of another family member by neglect and/or physical, psychological, sexual or economic violence or coercion. A family member or any other person who, in public or private life, commits physical, psychological, sexual or economic violence or coercion against a woman on grounds of intolerance of the equality of women and men shall also be considered an abuser. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 14 and the second sentence of paragraph 3, Article 14², subparagraph „i“ of paragraph 3 and paragraph 6 of Article 16 of this law, another responsible person or any other person who violates the constitutional rights and freedoms of a minor actually located/living with him/her on the basis of a legal act or a civil-law transaction or without them, by neglect and/or physical, psychological, sexual or economic violence or coercion, shall also be considered an abuser;
i) Shelter – a temporary residence for victims or a place of temporary (round-the-clock) accommodation for victims existing in the system of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia and/or on the basis of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity, which provides psychological-social assistance/rehabilitation, legal assistance, medical assistance and protection to victims;
j) Measures aimed at correcting the attitudes and behaviour of the abuser – a mandatory training course oriented towards changing violent attitudes and behaviour;
k) crisis centre − for the purposes of this Law, an institution providing support services which, at a minimum, ensures psychological and social assistance/rehabilitation for victims. A crisis centre may also provide other support services (including temporary (round-the-clock) accommodation services), if this is provided for by the charter (internal regulations) of the crisis centre;
k¹) support service/programme − for the purposes of this Law, a service/programme which helps a victim to restore strength and overcome the consequences of violence. For the said purpose, this service/programme shall provide support to victims in one or several of the following areas: protection of victims, legal assistance, psychological and social assistance/rehabilitation and care for their physical or psycho-emotional recovery, provision of temporary accommodation (shelter) to victims, protection of their health, promotion of vocational training/retraining and/or employment, and/or other assistance tailored to the needs of the victim;
l) (removed – 04.05.2017, No. 761).
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 752 – website, 24.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3105 – website, 11.07.2018
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 432 – website, 04.04.2025
Article 5. Legislation of Georgia on the elimination of violence against women and/or domestic violence, protection of and assistance to victims🔗
The legislation of Georgia on the elimination of violence against women and/or domestic violence, protection of and assistance to victims is based on the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties of Georgia, this Law and other normative acts of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Article 6. Mechanisms for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence🔗
1. Mechanisms for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence mean the set of social, economic, legal and other measures aimed at averting the causes and preconditions of violence against women and/or domestic violence, suppressing violence, the legal prosecution of the perpetrator, correcting his attitudes and behaviour, and the rehabilitation and adaptation of the victim.
2. The State, through its authorised bodies, facilitates and ensures the introduction and implementation of mechanisms for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence.
3. Mechanisms for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence mean:
a) analysis, study and assessment of the factors that are the causes of violence against women and/or domestic violence;
b) introduction of effective legal methods for detecting and suppressing violence against women and/or domestic violence;
c) production of relevant statistics;
d) implementation of preventive measures in respect of persons who belong to the risk groups committing violence against women and/or domestic violence or who have committed violence against women and/or domestic violence;
e) conduct of an appropriate information and educational campaign so that people have information about their rights and freedoms, duties, as well as the relevant guarantees of protection, including about the rights and duties that ensure the equality and mutual obligations of family members;
f) dissemination of and access to information about the liability of the perpetrator, the rights of the victim and the guarantees of the protection of these rights in cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence;
g) implementation of measures of assistance and protection for the victim in cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence, and of measures aimed at correcting the attitudes and behaviour of the perpetrator;
h) creation and support of joint programmes together with institutions interested in ensuring the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Article 7. Implementation of measures for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence🔗
1. The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, the bodies of the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia and court bodies shall, within their competence and in accordance with the procedure established by this Law, ensure the implementation of measures for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence.
2. In implementing measures for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence, the relevant state bodies may cooperate with interested institutions working on issues of violence against women and/or domestic violence and the protection of human rights, and ensure the planning and implementation of joint projects.
3. The interagency commission working on issues of equality of women and men, violence against women and domestic violence shall, within the framework established by Georgian legislation, ensure the implementation of monitoring and evaluation measures aimed at the prevention and suppression of all forms of violence falling within the scope of regulation of this Law.
3¹. The composition, status, functions, powers and rules of activity of the interagency commission working on issues of equality of women and men, violence against women and domestic violence shall be determined by the regulation of the said interagency commission, which shall be approved by the Government of Georgia.
4. The primary identification and detection of victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence, their protection, assistance and rehabilitation, and for this purpose the timely, coordinated (mutually agreed) activity of state bodies and other relevant subjects, shall be determined by the "National Referral Procedures for the Identification, Protection, Assistance and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence", which shall be approved by the Government of Georgia.
5. The State shall ensure that components aimed at the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence are included in the educational programmes of general educational institutions (schools), vocational and higher educational institutions.
6. Municipal bodies shall implement measures for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence and measures for the protection of and assistance to victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence within the powers determined by the Organic Law of Georgia "Local Self-Government Code".
Law of Georgia No. 4744 of 19 February 2016 – website, 25 February 2016.
Law of Georgia No. 761 of 4 May 2017 – website, 25 May 2017.
Law of Georgia No. 1820 of 22 December 2017 – website, 11 January 2018.
Law of Georgia No. 3105 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11 July 2018.
Law of Georgia No. 5024 of 20 September 2019 – website, 1 October 2019.
Law of Georgia No. 367 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18 March 2021.
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022.
Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3853 – website, 15.12.2023.
Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 432 – website, 04.04.2025.
Article 8. Social service🔗
1. The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, within the scope of its competence, ensures social service for the implementation of measures for the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence.
2. Social service includes:
a) study of the causes of family disputes, relevant analysis and assistance to family members in overcoming disputes;
b) implementation of measures of support for and assistance to victims;
c) together with the relevant State bodies, identification of risk groups of abusers and facilitation of the resolution of the problems related thereto;
d) participation in the process of issuing a protective order, where necessary;
e) participation in the process of monitoring the enforcement of the matters provided for by protective and restraining orders;
f) development of programmes of assistance to and social rehabilitation of victims and facilitation of their implementation.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017.
Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3105 – website, 11.07.2018.
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022.
Article 9. Mechanisms for the detection and suppression of violence against women and/or domestic violence🔗
1. For the detection and suppression of violence against women and/or domestic violence, criminal-law, civil-law and administrative-law mechanisms shall be applied.
2. Criminal-law mechanisms shall be applied where the fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence contains the elements of a criminal offence.
3. Civil-law mechanisms shall be applied in order to compensate, in accordance with the procedure established by the civil legislation of Georgia, for the damage caused as a result of violence against women and/or domestic violence.
4. Administrative-law mechanisms shall be applied by issuing a restraining order/protective order, as well as where the nature of the offence, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, does not give rise to criminal liability and its suppression is possible through the application of the norms of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017.
Article 9¹. Detection of Cases of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence🔗
Law enforcement and judicial bodies shall ensure the detection of and appropriate response to cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence. For the purpose of primary identification of the fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence and response to it, the obligation to apply to the relevant bodies is imposed on authorized employees of medical institutions, in the case of a minor − also of educational and upbringing institutions, of the guardianship and curatorship body, and other entities provided for by the legislation of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014.
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017.
Law of Georgia of 11 December 2019 No. 5463 – website, 19.12.2019.
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022.
Article 10. Protective and Restraining Orders🔗
1. For the purpose of ensuring the protection of the victim and the restriction of certain actions of the perpetrator, a restraining order or a protective order may be issued as a temporary measure by the body authorised to respond promptly to a fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence.
1¹. For the purpose of ensuring the protection of the victim and the restriction of certain actions of the perpetrator, the issuance of a restraining order as a temporary measure by an authorised police officer shall be mandatory, in the case of the initiation of an investigation or the conduct of an investigation, under Articles 108, 109, 115, 117, 118, 120, 126, 137 and 138, subparagraph "e" of paragraph 3 and paragraph 4 of Article 143, subparagraph "i" of paragraph 2 and paragraph 3 of Article 144, Articles 144¹–144³ and 151, subparagraph "a" of paragraph 2 and paragraph 3 of Article 160, and Article 381¹ of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
1². After receiving a report on a fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, if there is no ground for initiating an investigation and, accordingly, the procedure established by paragraph 1¹ of this Article does not apply, an authorised police officer shall, in accordance with the procedure established by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, assess the risk of recurrence of violence against the woman and/or domestic violence and, according to the severity of that risk, shall take one of the following decisions:
a) on the issuance of a restraining order;
b) on refusal to issue a restraining order.
2. A protective order is an act issued by a court of first instance (a judge) in accordance with the procedure of administrative proceedings, which determines temporary measures for the protection of the victim.
3. A restraining order is an act issued by an authorised police officer, which determines temporary measures for the protection of the victim in cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence. A restraining order shall be issued on the basis of the risk assessment questionnaire defined by the restraining order protocol approved by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
3¹. A restraining order shall indicate:
a) the date and place of its issuance;
b) the circumstances that served as the basis for its issuance;
c) the perpetrator's first name, surname, date and place of birth, personal number, profession and place of residence;
c¹) the victim's first name, surname, date of birth and personal number;
d) the list of those actions provided for by paragraph 3² of this Article which the perpetrator is prohibited from performing.
3². A restraining order shall be signed by the person having the right to issue it, the victim and the perpetrator. A restraining order may provide for:
a) the matter of removing the perpetrator from the victim's dwelling, regardless of whether the perpetrator is the owner of that house or not;
b) the matters of removing the victim and the person dependent on the victim from the perpetrator and of placing them in a shelter;
c) the prohibition of the perpetrator's right to unilaterally use the jointly owned property;
d) the matter of separating the perpetrator from the minor;
e) the issue of the abuser's approach to the victim, his/her place of work and other places where the victim is present;
f) the issue of the exercise of electronic supervision;
g) restriction or prohibition of the abuser's right to use weapons (including service-standard weapons) during the period of validity of this order or during the period determined by this order, prohibition of the right to acquire weapons or to obtain a permit or licence for their acquisition, and the conditions for the keeping or temporary seizure of weapons in personal ownership and/or weapons belonging to him/her (including service-standard weapons);
h) warning of the abuser that, in the event of non-compliance with the requirements and obligations provided for by this order, the liability determined by the legislation of Georgia shall be imposed on him/her;
i) other issues the resolution of which is necessary to ensure the victim's safety.
3³. If the victim and/or the abuser, for any reason, does not/cannot sign the restraining order, only the person entitled to issue the restraining order shall sign it. In this case, an appropriate note shall be made in the restraining order and the reason for the victim's and/or the abuser's refusal to sign it/inability to sign it shall be indicated.
3⁴. The restraining order may indicate one, several or all of the issues provided for by paragraph 3² of this Article, adequately to the fact of violence. The restraining order shall mandatorily indicate the restriction of the right to use weapons as defined by subparagraph „f“ of paragraph 3² of this Article in the event of the initiation of an investigation or the conduct of an investigation under Articles 108, 109, 115, 117, 118, 120, 126, 137 and 138, subparagraph „e“ of paragraph 3 of Article 143, subparagraph „i“ of paragraph 2 of Article 144, Articles 1441−1443 and 151, subparagraph „a“ of paragraph 2 and paragraph 3 of Article 160 and Article 381¹ of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
3⁵. The restraining order shall be written in the language of the proceedings, clearly and comprehensibly. It may be written by hand or printed using technical means.
3⁶. The restraining order shall enter into force upon issuance. It shall be sent/handed over to the victim and the abuser within 24 hours, while one copy of the restraining order shall remain with the body that issued it.
3⁷. A copy of the restraining order shall be immediately sent to:
a) the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia:
a.a) the relevant district service of the territorial body according to the victim's place of residence, for the purpose of responding to violations of the requirements and obligations provided for by the restraining order;
a.b) the relevant structural subdivision, for the purpose of entering the information into the appropriate electronic database, prompt and effective response to violations and recording statistical data;
a.c) the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, if the restraining order concerns issues related to weapons;
a.d) to the Legal Entity of Public Law of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia – the Public Safety Management Centre "112" (hereinafter – LEPL "112"), if the restraining order provides for the implementation of electronic supervision;
b) to the relevant local body of guardianship and curatorship, if the matter provided for by the restraining order concerns a minor.
3⁸. The victim or the abuser may appeal the restraining order within 3 days from the delivery/service of this order to him or her.
3⁹. If, when considering the issue of issuing a restraining order, signs of a crime provided for by the Criminal Code of Georgia are identified, the case materials shall, in parallel with the consideration of the issue of issuing the restraining order, be sent according to jurisdiction to the relevant body for deciding the issue of criminal prosecution;
3¹⁰. In the event of imposing electronic supervision on the abuser, the parameters of the geographic zones where the approach provided for by subparagraph „e“ of paragraph 3² of this Article is prohibited shall be determined by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
4. Failure by the abuser to comply with the requirements provided for by a restraining or protective order, as well as disobedience to a decision taken by a social worker on the separation of a minor, entails liability in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.
5. The application of the measures (criminal law mechanisms) provided for by the criminal legislation of Georgia against a person committing violence against women and/or domestic violence (the abuser) does not impede the issuance of a protective order or a restraining order to ensure the protection of the person affected by the violence (the victim).
6. If criminal prosecution has been initiated against a person committing violence against women and/or domestic violence (the abuser) on a charge of violence against women and/or domestic violence and/or a domestic crime, and a non-custodial preventive measure has been applied, the competent court shall, in accordance with criminal procedure, consider and decide the issue of applying restrictive measures against the abuser in order to ensure the protection of the person affected by the violence (the victim).
7. A protective order shall provide for the abuser's completion of a mandatory training course aimed at changing violent attitudes and behaviour.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 30 May 2018 No. 2394 – website, 08.06.2018
Law of Georgia of 20 September 2019 No. 5024 – website, 01.10.2019
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Article 10¹. Imposition and implementation of electronic supervision in respect of the offender🔗
1. In the presence of a fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence, an authorised police officer may, in order to ensure the implementation of the temporary protection measure for the victim provided for by subparagraph „e“ of paragraph 3² of Article 10 of this Law, impose electronic supervision in respect of the offender.
2. The imposition of electronic supervision in respect of the offender is permissible in order to ensure the implementation of the temporary protection measure for the victim provided for by subparagraph „e“ of paragraph 3² of Article 10 of this Law, in a special case, if there is a real threat of repetition of violence on the part of the offender. The assessment of the threat of repetition of violence shall be carried out by an authorised police officer on the basis of the risk assessment questionnaire defined by the protocol of the restraining order approved by Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia. When assessing the said threat, various circumstances shall be taken into account, including the fact of a previous violation by the offender of a restraining order and/or protective order issued in respect of him and the nature of the violation, the fact of the commission of a violent crime in the past, the fact of a threat on the part of the offender and/or his use/demonstration of a cold/firearm when committing physical violence, and other circumstances.
3. Electronic supervision in respect of the offender may be imposed upon the issuance of a restraining order, as well as at any time during the period of validity of the restraining order.
4. An indication regarding the imposition of electronic supervision in respect of the offender shall be made in the restraining order if electronic supervision is prescribed upon the issuance of the restraining order. At the same time, a protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall be issued and it shall be submitted to the court for approval within 24 hours of its issuance. In the event of failure to submit the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision to the court within 24 hours for approval, or of the court's refusal to approve this protocol, the commenced electronic supervision measure shall be terminated immediately.
5. The persons provided for by Article 11 of this Law shall have the right to request the imposition of electronic supervision in respect of the offender.
6. The consent of the victim or his/her legal representative/procedural representative shall be necessary for the implementation of electronic supervision. If a minor victim consents to the implementation of electronic supervision, while his/her legal representative/procedural representative refuses, the decision shall be taken in accordance with the best interests of the minor.
7. Electronic supervision shall be implemented for a period not exceeding the period of validity of the restraining order.
8. The protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall indicate:
a) the date and place of issuance of this protocol;
b) the circumstances that served as the basis for the issuance of this protocol;
c) the name, surname, date of birth, personal number and place of residence of the offender;
d) information about the abuser's criminal record;
e) the victim's name, surname, date of birth and personal number;
f) the victim's consent to the implementation of electronic supervision;
g) the details of the restraining order for the securing of which the electronic supervision measure is applied;
h) on the prohibition of the abuser's approach to the victim, his/her workplace and other places where the victim is located;
i) on warning the abuser that, in the course of the implementation of electronic supervision, in the event of the abuser's entry into an alarm zone defined by the procedure for the implementation of electronic supervision, or of failure to comply with the request of an authorised person to leave the alarm or buffer zone, or of evasion of electronic supervision, criminal liability shall be imposed, as well as that in the event of damage to or destruction of the electronic device transferred for the purpose of the implementation of electronic supervision, criminal liability shall be imposed;
j) other issues the resolution of which is necessary for the implementation of electronic supervision in respect of the abuser.
9. The protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall indicate the operating instructions for the electronic device, which are mandatory for compliance.
10. The protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall be signed by the person entitled to issue it, the victim and the abuser in respect of whom this protocol was issued.
11. If the victim and/or the abuser, for any reason, does not/cannot sign the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision, it shall be signed only by the person entitled to issue this protocol. In this case, an appropriate note shall be made in the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision and the reason for the victim's and/or the abuser's refusal to sign it/inability to sign it shall be indicated.
12. The protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall enter into force upon issuance. This protocol shall be sent/handed to the victim and the abuser within 24 hours of issuance. 1 copy of the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall remain with the body that issued it, and 1 copy shall be submitted to the court for approval within 24 hours of the issuance of this protocol.
13. A copy of the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision shall be immediately sent to:
a) the relevant district service of the relevant territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia according to the victim's place of residence, for the purpose of responding to non-compliance with the requirements and obligations provided for by the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision;
b) the relevant structural subdivision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, for the purpose of entering information into the appropriate electronic database, rapid and effective response to violations and recording statistical data;
c) LEPL − "112", for the purpose of technical support of the implementation of electronic supervision.
14. The electronic device handed to the offender for the purpose of carrying out electronic supervision consists of an electronic bracelet and a receiving device. Damage to or destruction of this electronic device entails the imposition of criminal liability on the offender.
15. The procedure for carrying out electronic supervision in respect of the offender shall be established by an order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, which determines in detail the rules for carrying out electronic supervision, including the parameters of the geographical zones (the buffer zone and the alarm zone) where approaching the victim is prohibited, the rules for processing and storing personal data in the course of carrying out electronic supervision, and other matters.
16. If, for the purpose of carrying out electronic supervision, it is impossible to attach the electronic device to the offender's body at the place, the authorised police officer shall have the right to take the offender to the nearest police facility. When the offender is brought to the police station by force, the offender shall be informed of:
a) the ground for bringing him/her to the police station;
b) that he/she has the right to a lawyer;
c) that he/she has the right, if the offender so wishes, for the fact and place of his/her being brought to the police station to be communicated to a relative designated by him/her, as well as to the administration of his/her place of work or study.
17. When the offender is brought to the police station, a record on the bringing of the person shall be drawn up. This record shall state: the date and place of drawing up the record; the first name, surname and position of the official drawing up the record; information about the offender; the time and ground for bringing the offender to the police station. The said record shall be signed by the official drawing it up and the offender. If the offender refuses to sign the record, this shall be noted in the record.
18. The offender shall be detained at the police station for the reasonable period necessary for attaching the electronic device to his/her body. The total period of his/her being brought to the police station shall not exceed 6 hours. The decision on bringing the offender shall be appealed in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.
19. When an authorised police officer issues a record on the carrying out of electronic supervision in the case of the absence of the offender at the place, the police shall be entitled to summon the offender to the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in order to attach the electronic device to his/her body. If the offender fails to appear before this body, the police shall be entitled to conduct a search for him/her throughout the country.
20. The police shall be entitled, where necessary, to use proportionate measures of coercion in order to attach the electronic device to the offender's body.
21. Electronic supervision shall be carried out within the jurisdiction of Georgia. The abuser/victim shall be prohibited from crossing the state border of Georgia by electronic means. The abuser/victim shall be obliged to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in advance of his/her crossing of the state border of Georgia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be entitled, within the period determined by the protocol on the implementation of electronic supervision, to process information on the crossing of the state border of Georgia by the abuser/victim. The implementation of electronic supervision shall be suspended until the return of the abuser/victim to Georgia.
22. The application of the measures (criminal-law mechanisms) provided for by the criminal legislation of Georgia against the abuser shall not hinder the implementation of electronic supervision against the abuser for the purpose of ensuring the protection of the victim. The imposition of a preventive measure — pre-trial detention, arrest or the imposition of administrative detention — against the abuser shall be grounds for the suspension of the implementation of electronic supervision.
23. In the event of an accidental approach of the abuser and the victim, an employee of LEPL — "112" shall be obliged to contact the abuser and to demand that he/she leave the relevant territory in order to prevent an accidental encounter with the victim. The abuser shall be obliged to comply with the demand of the employee of LEPL — "112". Failure to comply with this demand shall result in the imposition of criminal liability on the abuser.
24. During the implementation of electronic supervision, the entry by the abuser into an alarm zone determined by the rules for the implementation of electronic supervision, or failure to comply with the demand of an authorised person to leave the alarm or buffer zone, or evasion of electronic supervision shall result in the imposition on him/her of the liability provided for by the Criminal Code of Georgia.
25. The applied electronic supervision measure may be revoked early by way of an application to the court:
a) due to a change of circumstances, including due to a serious illness of the abuser, if the changed circumstances exclude the risk of repeated violence on the part of the abuser;
b) if the victim applies to the police with a request to revoke the implementation of electronic supervision.
26. Within 24 hours from the occurrence of the circumstance provided for by paragraph 25 of this Article, the police shall apply to the court with a request to revoke the implementation of electronic supervision. Within 24 hours from this application, the court shall consider the said issue in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.
27. The revocation of the restraining order by the authorised body, the death of the abuser or of the victim shall result in the automatic revocation of the applied electronic supervision measure.
28. An authorised employee of the police shall have the right, for the purpose of removing the electronic device from the abuser, to summon him/her or, in accordance with paragraphs 16–18 of this Article, to transfer him/her to the nearest police division.
29. The authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall have the right, for the purpose of preventing violence against women and domestic violence, to process the personal data of the offender/victim, including data obtained as a result of electronic monitoring, data reflecting communication with the offender/victim.
30. For the purpose of carrying out electronic monitoring, information shall be exchanged between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, the court and, where necessary, other relevant agencies.
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020.
Article 11. Right to request the issuance of restraining and protective orders🔗
1. The victim, a member of the victim's family, or, with the victim's consent, a social worker or a person providing medical, legal or psychological assistance to the victim, and in the case of violence against a minor, also the guardianship and curatorship authority, shall have the right to request the issuance of restraining and protective orders.
2. In the case provided for by paragraph 4 of Article 17¹ of this Law, the authorized employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall assess the information received from the victim. In the process of the relevant risk assessment, he/she shall be entitled to request from the penitentiary institution the individual assessment report of the convicted person. If the said information provides sufficient grounds for assuming that violence against the victim may recur, the authorized employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall determine the whereabouts of the person released from the penitentiary institution and, after taking the appropriate explanations from him/her, shall decide on the issuance of a restraining order or on refusal to issue a restraining order. In the case of the issuance of a restraining order, the existence of a request by the person provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be mandatory for its issuance.
3. The police shall be entitled, on its own initiative, to issue a restraining order if there are sufficient grounds for assuming that a person's constitutional rights and freedoms may be violated by disregarding or coercing him/her and/or by physical, psychological, economic or sexual violence against him/her.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 30 May 2018 No. 2394 – website, 08.06.2018.
Law of Georgia of 20 September 2019 No. 5024 – website, 01.10.2019.
Article 12. Term of validity of protective and restraining orders🔗
1. A protective order shall be issued for a term of up to 9 months. Its specific term of validity shall be determined by the court.
2. The issue of changing the term of validity of a protective order shall be decided by the court. Extension of the term of validity of a protective order shall be possible during the period of validity of the order and for an additional period of not more than 3 months, if there is a threat to the victim or another member of the family.
3. Upon reconciliation of the parties, on the basis of a joint application by them to the court/authorised police officer, the operation of protective and restraining orders may be revoked by a corresponding decision of the judge/authorised police officer, as a result of a comprehensive and complete examination of the circumstances of the case, except in the case where there still exists a threat of committing violence against the victim or another member of his/her family, as well as in the cases provided for by Article 13 of this Law.
4. A restraining order shall be issued for a term of up to 1 month.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Article 13. Issuance and operation of protective and restraining orders upon reconciliation of the victim and the abuser🔗
Reconciliation of the victim and the abuser shall not impede the issuance of protective and restraining orders and shall not result in the revocation of the operation of protective and restraining orders, if there still exists a threat of committing violence against the victim or another member of his/her family, or the fact of violence against a woman and/or domestic violence contradicts the interests of other members of the victim's family (in particular, a minor).
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Article 14. Separation of a minor from an abusive parent, another legal representative or another person actually staying/living with the minor🔗
1. In the event of violence against a minor, the minor shall be separated from the abusive parent (parents), another legal representative or any other abuser on the basis of a restraining order issued by an authorised police officer, and in the cases determined by the child protection referral procedures – on the basis of a decision taken by a social worker.
2. The separation of a minor from a parent (parents), another legal representative or any other person actually staying/living with the minor is an extreme measure, which is applied only where all other, less severe measures (including interview and warning) have been applied and these measures have failed to produce the desired result, or where in the situation that has arisen it is obvious that the application of a less severe measure will not ensure the protection of the life and health of the minor. The opinion of the minor as to where he/she should be placed shall be taken into account according to his/her age and level of development, and in any case the decision shall be taken with due regard for the best interests of the minor. When taking the decision, the police officer/social worker identifies the signs of violence and interviews the victim and those persons who are able to provide information useful for him/her. Where necessary, the police officer/social worker calls for emergency medical assistance and, before taking the decision, consults the doctor of the emergency medical assistance brigade that has arrived at the scene. On this basis, the police officer/social worker assesses the case and, taking into account the risks to the safety of the minor, takes a decision on the separation of the minor in accordance with the procedure established by the child protection referral procedures. Upon taking the decision on the separation of the minor, the social worker shall immediately apply to the police, which shall ensure the immediate enforcement of the decision.
3. In the presence of forms of domestic violence, where a person provided for by Article 11 of this Law applies to the court requesting the issuance of a protective order, the court shall consider the issue of the relationship of the abusive parent (parents) or another legal representative with the minor. In the presence of traces of violence against the minor, the issue of the separation of the minor from the abusive parent (parents), another legal representative or another abuser may be raised before the court as a temporary measure until the court takes a final decision.
4. When considering the issue of the right to represent a minor, account shall be taken of the circumstance that leaving the right to represent the minor to an abusive parent (parents) or another legal representative may be detrimental to the interests of the minor. It is inadmissible to leave the right of joint guardianship of the minor to the parents if there is a reasonable presumption of violence by one of the parents against him/her.
5. In the cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia, a minor from the age of 14 has the right to apply to a court for the protection of his/her rights and legitimate interests. In such a case, the court appoints a procedural representative and considers the case. A minor claimant has the right not to agree with his/her procedural representative and to defend himself/herself. The court is obliged to involve the guardianship and curatorship authority in such a case.
6. In the case provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the decision of a social worker may be appealed in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia. An appeal against the decision does not suspend its effect.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Article 14¹. Identification of a fact of domestic violence against a minor🔗
1. For the purpose of identifying (primary identification of) a fact of domestic violence against a minor and responding to it, medical institutions, educational and upbringing institutions, the guardianship and curatorship authority and their authorised employees, as well as other relevant institutions involved in child protection referral procedures and their authorised employees, are charged with the obligation to apply to the relevant authorities.
2. Failure by a subject involved in child protection referral procedures (an institution and/or its authorised employee) to fulfil the obligation to identify a fact of violence against a minor and to provide information about violence against a minor to the relevant State authority shall entail liability in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Law of Georgia of 11 December 2019 No. 5463 – website, 19.12.2019
Article 14². Child protection referral procedures🔗
Child protection referral procedures shall be approved by the Government of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Article 15. Prevention of abduction of a minor and ensuring other types of safety🔗
1. The court, by its judgment, determines the terms of visitation of the minor by the abusive parent. The abusive parent may be granted the right to visit the minor only if all safety measures are ensured with respect to him/her, which may include the place, time, frequency and duration of the visitation of the minor and the person responsible for ensuring compliance with the minor's safety requirements/measures.
2. If safety measures with respect to the minor are not ensured, the right of the abusive parent to visit the minor shall be restricted. If the said restriction continues for more than 3 months, the parent whose right is restricted may apply to the court requesting a change in the conditions of visitation of the minor.
3. In the presence of a real threat of abduction of the minor by the abuser or of causing other type of harm to him/her, the abuser may be prohibited by a judgment from the right to visit him/her until the circumstances change.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Article 16. Duties of the police🔗
1. Upon receiving information about a fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence, the police shall be obliged to immediately respond and carry out the measures provided for by law.
2. In the event of receiving a notification about a fact of violence, the police shall be obliged to immediately appear at the scene, regardless of whether the injured party, a witness to the violence, or a person provided for by Article 11 of this Law applied to the police bodies.
3. In the event of the existence of a fact of violence, the police shall be obliged to:
a) take the measures provided for by law in order to suppress the fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence;
b) interview separately the persons involved in the case of violence against women and/or domestic violence, and the witnesses (including a minor), which shall be recorded in writing;
c) provide the victim with information about his/her rights;
d) at the request of the victim or in an urgent case, ensure his/her transfer to a medical institution;
e) at the request of the victim, as well as in an urgent case with the consent of the victim, ensure the transfer of the victim and a person dependent on him/her to a shelter;
f) in the event of the transfer of the victim to another place, ensure the retrieval of items of primary necessity and identity documents from his/her place of residence;
f¹) if necessary, on the basis of this Law, remove the perpetrator from the victim's place of residence and ensure the victim's safety;
g) ensure the safety of the person who reported the fact of violence;
h) issue a restraining order in accordance with the procedure and conditions established by this Law;
i) in the event of non-compliance with a decision taken by a social worker on the separation of a minor, issue an order restricting rights related to weapons.
3¹. The order restricting rights related to weapons, which is issued for a period of 1 month, shall determine the restrictions provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Weapons". The form of the order restricting rights related to weapons shall be approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
4. The police shall draw up a record on the fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence and the measures taken, which shall be submitted to the supervising prosecutor.
5. The police shall be obliged to separately allocate in its report data on the facts of violence against women and/or domestic violence, the measures taken, the number of victims, the actions carried out in respect of the perpetrator, as well as other data on the perpetrator.
6. The police shall supervise the fulfilment of the requirements and conditions provided for by issued protective, restraining and weapon-related rights restriction orders.
7. The procedure for supervising the fulfilment of the requirements and conditions provided for by protective, restraining and weapon-related rights restriction orders shall be established by an Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 - website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 - website, 12.07.2016
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 - website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 20 September 2019 No. 5024 – website, 01.10.2019
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Article 16¹. (removed)🔗
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 20 September 2013 No. 1251 – website, 08.10.2013
Law of Georgia 201
4
year
17
September No. 2697 - website, 31.10.2014
year
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 - website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Article 17. Rights of the victim and guarantees of their protection, accessibility of support services🔗
1. The victim is entitled, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, to:
a) apply to the relevant state body with a request for the issuance of a protective order or a restraining order, and, taking into account the gravity of the fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence, or in the event of violation of the conditions of issued protective and restraining orders — with a request for the application of criminal-law mechanisms;
b) request, in accordance with the procedure established by this Law, the imposition of electronic monitoring on the offender;
c) apply to the relevant court with a request for compensation by the offender of the damage caused to them as a result of violence against women and/or domestic violence;
d) receive compensation if the damage caused to them as a result of violence against women and/or domestic violence is not compensated in accordance with subparagraph „c“ of this paragraph and/or from other sources provided for by this Law and other legislative and subordinate normative acts of Georgia for victim services and protection;
e) benefit free of charge from support services/programmes, as well as from a shelter/crisis centre and its services, regardless of whether or not they cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or court bodies;
f) while staying in a shelter/crisis centre, exercise the right to suspension of employment relations. The period of such suspension shall not exceed 30 calendar days per year;
g) apply to the relevant state body to obtain a temporary residence permit for stay in Georgia, if they are a foreigner or a stateless person;
h) benefit from legal aid at the expense of the State in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of Georgia on Legal Aid;
i) benefit from other mechanisms of social and legal protection provided for by this Law and other legislative and subordinate normative acts of Georgia.
2. In cases of domestic crime, violence against women and/or domestic violence, when carrying out measures of criminal prosecution, in order to ensure the protection of a person injured as a result of domestic crime, violence against women and/or domestic violence and other subjects participating in the proceedings, the special protection measures provided for by the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia may be applied.
3. In criminal proceedings at all stages concerning a domestic crime, violence against women and/or domestic violence, including during questioning, the best interests of a minor witness and a minor victim shall be taken into account, in accordance with their age and level of development. In connection with a domestic crime, violence against women and/or domestic violence, it is inadmissible to question a minor witness and a minor victim, as well as, when issuing a protective order or a restraining order, to interview a minor victim of violence against women and/or domestic violence (to receive explanations from him/her) in the presence of the presumed perpetrator parent (parents). It is also inadmissible in criminal proceedings to involve as the minor's legal representative a person who is the presumed perpetrator or whose impartiality is in doubt arising from the nature of the relationship existing between that person and the family member who is the perpetrator, or in another case of conflict of interest, as well as to acquaint or transmit to him (them) the testimony given by the minor (the questioning protocol, explanations). In these cases, the parent's authority to be the minor's representative in criminal/administrative proceedings shall be considered suspended during the proceedings in court, until the final resolution of the dispute. The guardianship and curatorship authority shall appoint a representative of the minor who represents the minor's interests during the consideration of the case in court.
4. If the victim is a foreign national or a stateless person, he/she shall be issued a temporary residence permit in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, on the basis of a request by the victims' service institution or the body conducting the proceedings.
5. If the victim is a foreign national or a stateless person, he/she may not be returned to a foreign country if there is a presumption that, in the event of return there, his/her safety will not be protected and ensured.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Law of Georgia of 30 December 2021 No. 1345 – website, 31.12.2021
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Article 17¹. Informing the victim and implementation of preventive measures🔗
1. The bodies issuing protective and restraining orders, the body conducting a criminal case related to violence against women and/or domestic violence, the institution providing support services (including a shelter/crisis centre) and other authorised bodies determined by the legislation of Georgia shall be obliged to familiarise the victim, in a language and in a form understandable to the victim, with information on the mechanisms of social and legal protection of and assistance to victims existing in the country and on the relevant services/programmes.
2. The institution serving victims and other authorised bodies determined by the legislation of Georgia shall, where necessary, provide the victim with information and render appropriate assistance in drafting an application (claim) related to violence against women and/or domestic violence and claims for compensation for damage caused as a result of violence against women and/or domestic violence, and in the relevant legal proceedings.
3. The penitentiary institution shall be obliged, upon the occurrence of the circumstance provided for by paragraph 4 of this article, to immediately send written notification thereof to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
4. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be obliged, on the basis of the information provided by the penitentiary institution, to immediately notify the victim of the release from the penitentiary institution of the person perpetrating violence against the victim (the abuser), of escape, of a short-term leave outside the imprisonment facility in accordance with the procedure established by Article 125 of the Penitentiary Code, of departure from the imprisonment facility for preparation for release in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 12 of Article 34 of the same Code, and also to implement the measures provided for by paragraph 2 of Article 11 of this Law.
5. An authorised employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall draw up a record of the interview with the victim. In this record, he/she shall indicate the victim's dependence on the convicted person, the convicted person's dependence on the victim during the serving of the sentence, and other information that may be important for assessing the risk of repeated violence against the victim.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 1 May 2015 No. 3557 – website, 18.05.2015
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 955 – website, 20.06.2017
Law of Georgia of 20 September 2019 No. 5024 – website, 01.10.2019
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 4004 – website, 26.12.2023
Article 17². Temporary accommodation (shelter) for victims🔗
1. The temporary accommodation (shelter) for victims existing within the system of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia shall create living conditions for the victim and shall ensure the possibility for him/her to benefit from primary and emergency medical services and psychological assistance.
2. The establishment of a shelter by a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity shall be permissible if it meets the minimum standards established by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia for this type of institution.
3. The activities of a shelter shall be regulated by its charter (internal regulations), which complies with the minimum standards established for such a place and determines the structure, powers and procedure of activity of the shelter, including the types of shelter services, the circle of persons receiving these services and the conditions and timeframes for the provision of services, as well as the grounds for refusal to provide the service.
4. The provider of shelter services shall be obliged to define appropriate criteria and/or develop a special instrument (for example, a risk and needs assessment instrument), on the basis of/through which, in the event of a victim's request for shelter services, when the victim does not cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or judicial bodies, it takes a decision on the provision of shelter services to him/her or on refusal to provide this service.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014.
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017.
Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3105 – website, 11.07.2018.
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022.
Article 18. Placement of the Victim in a Shelter🔗
1. In the presence of a fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence, where the victim requests shelter services, law enforcement bodies shall ensure the placement/transfer of the victim and persons dependent on her in a shelter.
2. The provision of shelter services to the victim shall not depend on her readiness to cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or court bodies against persons committing violence against women and/or domestic violence.
3. Where the victim requests shelter services, when the victim does not cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or court bodies (i.e. a restraining order or a protective order is not in effect to ensure the victim's protection, or criminal prosecution measures are not being carried out in connection with violence against women and/or domestic violence), the shelter service provider shall, on the basis of objective criteria determined by it/by means of a special instrument developed by it, take a decision on the provision of shelter services to her or on refusal to provide this service. When taking this decision, the shelter service provider shall rely on the real needs of the victim, irrespective of the refusal to cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or court bodies. In the case of refusal to provide shelter services, the decision shall be substantiated.
4. The placement of the victim and persons dependent on her in a shelter shall be for a period of up to 4 months. If necessary, this period shall be extended in accordance with the procedure established by the shelter's statute (internal regulations), except where the victim no longer wishes to stay in the shelter for longer than the said period. After the expiry of the period of the victim's stay in the shelter, in the presence of a threat to her, the shelter administration, with the victim's consent, shall notify law enforcement bodies thereof in order to ensure further response.
5. In the case of placement in a shelter, the victim shall, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, retain her workplace in the same position.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Article 18¹. Crisis Centre🔗
1. The crisis centre is a support service provider institution that helps the victim escape the violent environment and restore strength. For this purpose, the crisis centre shall provide, at minimum, psychological-social assistance/rehabilitation to victims. The crisis centre may also provide other support services (including temporary (round-the-clock) accommodation services), if this is provided for by the charter (internal regulations) of the crisis centre.
2. The crisis centre is established within the system of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia and/or on the basis of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity. A crisis centre established on the basis of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity shall meet the minimum standards established by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia for such an institution.
3. The provision of crisis centre services to a victim does not depend on his/her readiness to cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or court bodies against persons committing violence against women and/or domestic violence.
4. The provider of crisis centre services shall determine relevant criteria and/or develop a special instrument (for example, a risk and needs assessment instrument), on the basis of/through which, in the event of a victim's request for crisis centre services, when the victim does not cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or court bodies (i.e. no restraining order or protective order is in effect to ensure the victim's protection, or no criminal prosecution measures are being carried out in connection with violence against women and/or domestic violence), it takes a decision on providing crisis centre services to him/her or refusing to provide such services. In the event of refusal to provide crisis centre services, the decision shall be substantiated.
5. During the period of using crisis centre services, the victim's workplace shall be retained in the same position in accordance with the procedure established by Georgian legislation.
6. The activity of the crisis centre is regulated by its charter (internal regulations), which governs matters related to the activity of the crisis centre, including determines the types of crisis centre services, the circle of persons receiving these services and the conditions and terms of provision of services, as well as the grounds for refusal to provide services.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3105 – website, 11.07.2018
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Article 18². Preservation of the right to temporary use of housing for the victim🔗
If the victim does not use a shelter/crisis centre and wishes to remain at the place of residence under a protective or restraining order, the issue of temporarily removing the abuser from the victim's place of residence shall be determined. The police is entitled, in accordance with a protective or restraining order, to remove the abuser from the victim's place of residence also in the case where this place is the property of the abuser.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Article 18³. Restriction established for the personnel of a shelter/crisis centre🔗
A person convicted of a crime against sexual freedom and inviolability, as provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Combating Crimes against Sexual Freedom and Inviolability", may not be employed in a shelter/crisis centre, regardless of the removal or expungement of the conviction.
Law of Georgia of 17 March 2020 No. 5769 – website, 23.03.2020
Article 19. Information about the victim🔗
Information obtained about the identity of the victim, his/her health and psychological condition is confidential and may be disclosed only in the manner established by law.
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Article 19¹. Free telephone assistance🔗
1. To ensure the provision of assistance to victims and consultation on relevant issues, a free, 24-hour emergency service telephone number is created, which is accessible throughout the entire territory of the country.
2. Through the free, 24-hour emergency service telephone number, any interested person shall be provided with information on the mechanisms of response in cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence and on measures for the protection of victims.
3. The telephone assistance network operates with the observance of confidentiality. It is inadmissible to disclose information received through this network, except for the exception established by the legislation of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022
Article 19². Support service/programme🔗
1. Support for victims means a service/programme that provides for the protection of victims, legal assistance, psychological and social assistance/rehabilitation and care for their physical or psycho-emotional recovery, the provision of temporary accommodation (shelter) for victims, the protection of their health, the promotion of vocational training/retraining and/or employment, and the purpose of which is the empowerment of victims (in particular, women victims) and the promotion of their economic independence.
2. The measures taken by an institution providing support services shall be gender-responsive, shall focus on the rights and safety of the victim as a human being, shall take into account the specific needs of vulnerable persons (including a child victim) and shall also be accessible to them.
3. The provision of support services to a victim shall not depend on his/her willingness to cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or judicial authorities against persons committing violence against women and/or domestic violence.
4. A provider of a support service/programme shall be obliged to define the relevant criteria on the basis of which, where a victim requests the said service and/or expresses a wish to be included in the programme, when the victim does not cooperate with law enforcement/prosecution and/or judicial authorities, it takes a decision on the provision of the said service to him/her/inclusion of him/her in the said programme or on refusal to provide this service to him/her/inclusion in the programme. These criteria shall provide for the grounds for such refusal and the obligation to substantiate it.
Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2477 – website, 29.12.2022.
Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 432 – website, 04.04.2025.
Article 20. Measures aimed at correcting the perpetrator's attitudes and behaviour🔗
Measures aimed at correcting the perpetrator's attitudes and behaviour imply measures aimed at changing violent behaviour by the perpetrator and at providing psychological and social assistance to the perpetrator, the purpose of which is to prevent the recurrence of violence and to ensure the safety of the victim, the acknowledgement by the perpetrator of responsibility for violent behaviour and its consequences, as well as the maintenance of positive changes achieved in the perpetrator's attitudes and behaviour. In order to achieve them, it is important for the perpetrator to complete a mandatory training course focused on changing violent attitudes and behaviour. Measures aimed at correcting the perpetrator's attitudes and behaviour, and the procedure and forms for their implementation, shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 28 October 2015 No. 4455 – website, 11.11.2015
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Article 21. Measures to be implemented in connection with the entry into force of the Law🔗
1. The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia shall determine the minimum standards necessary for the arrangement of temporary accommodation (shelter) for victims and ensure their creation.
2. The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia shall determine the mechanisms for the provision of social services in connection with issues of violence against women and/or domestic violence and, by 1 September 2017, ensure the training (certification) of relevant social workers.
3. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, within 1 month from the publication of this Law, ensure the development and approval of the form of a restraining order in respect of a fact of domestic violence.
4. (Removed – 4 May 2017, No. 761).
5. The Government of Georgia shall ensure the development of mechanisms for cooperation between agencies for the mutual exchange of existing information on violence against women and/or domestic violence.
6. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall ensure the creation of a database on the seizure of weapons from a perpetrator by a police officer in the event of non-compliance by perpetrators with issued protective and restraining orders, as well as with a decision made by a social worker on the separation of a minor, the timely provision of the said information to interested state bodies and access thereto.
7. The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia shall, by 1 July 2010, determine the minimum standards necessary for the arrangement and functioning of a crisis centre.
8. The Government of Georgia shall, by 1 April 2014, ensure the adoption of the resolutions provided for by paragraphs 11 and 2 of Article 16¹ of this Law.
9. Until the adoption by the Government of Georgia of the normative acts provided for by paragraph 8 of this Article, Decree No. 665 of the President of Georgia of 5 October 2009 "On Approval of the Procedure for Identification of Victims of Domestic Violence" and Decree No. 625 of the President of Georgia of 26 December 2008 "On Approval of the Composition and Regulations of the Interagency Council Implementing Measures to Prevent Domestic Violence" shall retain legal force.
10. The Government of Georgia shall, by 1 October 2015, ensure the implementation of measures necessary for organizing a mandatory training course aimed at changing violent attitudes and behaviour, to be completed by the perpetrator, as provided for by a protective order, as well as the determination of the state body authorized to organize this course.
11. The Government of Georgia, upon submission by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, shall, by 1 January 2023, approve the amount of compensation to be paid to the victim and the procedure for payment of compensation.
12. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, by 1 September 2020, ensure the development and approval of the form of a protocol on the implementation of electronic monitoring.
13. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall ensure the elaboration and approval of the rules for the implementation of electronic supervision by 1 September 2020.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 20 September 2013 No. 1251 – website, 08.10.2013
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 24 July 2015 No. 4105 – website, 04.08.2015
Law of Georgia of 22 June 2016 No. 5446 – website, 12.07.2016
Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 761 – website, 25.05.2017
Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6758 – website, 20.07.2020
Law of Georgia of 30 December 2021 No. 1344 – website, 31.12.2021
Article 22. Entry into force of the Law🔗
1. This Law, except for Article 8 and Chapter VI, shall enter into force upon publication.
2. Article 8 and Chapter VI of this Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2008.
3. The operation of Articles 8 and 20 of this Law shall be suspended until 1 July 2016.
4. The operation of subparagraph „i“ of paragraph 1 of Article 17 of this Law shall be suspended until 1 December 2014, and the operation of Article 19¹ — until 1 May 2015.
Law of Georgia of 28 December 2009 No. 2507-LHG I, No. 3, 13.01.2010, Art. 4
Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2697 – website, 31.10.2014
Law of Georgia of 24 July 2015 No. 4105 – website, 04.08.2015
President of Georgia M. Saakashvili
Tbilisi,
25 May 2006.
No. 3143-Is