Newly established department to combat hate speech begins operations - MIA

"The newly established department to combat hate speech of the Human Rights Protection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has begun operations," the MIA said in a statement.

According to the same statement, the department currently has 10 employees.

"The main function and duties of the department will be to monitor and proactively detect publicly disseminated statements that are offensive/insulting to human dignity and contain hate speech, which contain signs of a violation of the law provided for by the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia.

The department will identify the alleged violator, establish his/her identity, prepare administrative proceedings materials, draw up an administrative offense protocol and, in compliance with the rules of adjudication, send it to common courts.

At the initial stage, the number of employees of the department was determined at ten staff units.

The employees of the department will carry out their activities within the framework of the legislative framework that is already in force in the country," the Ministry of Internal Affairs states.