58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?

Article 342 of the Law on Political Unions and Citizens

1. Acceptance or non-disclosure of donations or membership fees prohibited under the legislation of Georgia by a party or a person specified in Article 261 (1) of this Law shall result in the transfer of the prohibited donations or membership fees to the state budget and the imposition of a fine equal to twice the amount of the prohibited donations or membership fees.

2. If donations or membership fees prohibited under the legislation of Georgia are contributed to a party or a person specified in Article 261 (1) of this Law by a natural or legal person, or by an association of natural or legal persons, or by any other type of organisational entity, where the beneficiary of the donation or membership fee was not or could not have been aware of the violation, the said violation shall result in the imposition of a fine equal to twice the amount of the forbidden donations or membership fees on the person who transferred prohibited donations or membership fees and on the person (if any), who transferred prohibited donations though a third person.

3. Acceptance or non-disclosure by a person of prohibited donations or membership fees for the benefit of a a party or a person specified in Article 261 (1) of this Law shall result in the imposition of a fine on the person equal to twice the amount of the forbidden donation or membership fee.

4. The failure by a party or a person specified in Article 261 (1) and (2) of this Law to fulfil the requirements and obligations under this Law shall result in a fine of GEL 5,000.

5. Failure to fulfil the statutory obligation related to the provision of information specified in this Law upon the request of the State Audit Office shall result in a fine of GEL 500 for a natural person, and GEL 2,000 for legal persons.

6. Violation of the requirements set out in Article 252 of this Law, as well as the receipt of unlawful gifts, income and services for electoral purposes by a natural person, if the cost of the given property (services) or transaction does not exceed GEL 100, shall result in the imposition of a fine on the party, party representative or legal person in question, equal to 10 times the value of the relevant property (services) or transaction, and the imposition of a fine on the natural person in question equal to twice the value of the relevant property (services).

8. Violation of the requirements set out in Article 251 (1) and (11 ) shall result in a fine equal to twice the amount of the expenses incurred in excess of the maximum limit.

9. Any action specified in paragraphs 1 to 8 of this article, committed repeatedly or by one person though different natural or legal persons, shall result in a fine equal to twice the amount of the penalty established under the respective paragraph. 10. Liability under this article may be imposed on a person for up to 6 years after the commission of the relevant act.

11. In the case of an administrative offence specified in this article, an authorised person of the State Audit Office shall draw up an administrative offence report, which shall be promptly submitted to a district (city) court of Georgia for consideration.

12. If there are circumstances that may hinder the execution of statutory penalties applicable to violations, the State Audit Office may, in addition to drawing up an administrative offence report, seize the property (including bank accounts) of a party and/or of a person in proportion to the sanction envisaged for the relevant offence. The seizure shall enter into force immediately and shall be submitted to the court for approval along with the administrative offence report.

13. The court shall, within 15 days after receiving the relevant materials, review the issue of approval of the administrative offence report and render a decision. The court decision may be appealed only once to the Court of Appeals within 10 days after the service of the court decision. The Court of Appeals shall render a decision not later than 15 days after the receipt of the appeal. The decision shall be final and subject to no appeal.

14. During a pre-election period, the court shall review the issue of approval of the administrative offence report specified in paragraph 11 of this article and render a decision within 5 calendar days after the receipt of the relevant materials. The court decision may be appealed only once to the Court of Appeals within 72 hours after the service of the court decision. The decision shall be final and subject to no appeal. The court shall submit the justified decision and case materials to the party not later than 12 p.m. on the day following the day when the decision is rendered.

15. A court shall, not later than 48 hours after the submission of the relevant materials, review the issue of imposing seizure for the administrative violation specified in paragraph 12 of this article and render a decision. The court decision may be appealed only once to the Court of Appeals within 48 hours after the service of the court decision. Appealing a decision shall not suspend the execution of the seizure. The Court of Appeals shall render a decision not later than 48 hours after the receipt of the appeal. The decision shall be final and subject to no appeal. The court shall submit the justified decision and case materials to the party not later than 12 p.m. on the day following the day when the decision is rendered. 16. For the purposes of this Law the following forms of donation or membership fees shall be deemed as prohibited: a) donations/membership fees transferred in violation of the procedures established by this Law; b) the full amount of donations or membership fees transferred by an unauthorised person specified in this Law; c) the amount of donations or membership fees in excess of the maximum limit established under this Law and transferred by an authorised person specified in this Law