What Article 174¹⁸ of the Administrative Offences Code covers
Article 174¹⁸ of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia establishes administrative liability for desecrating the official symbol of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or another international organisation, as well as for desecrating the flag or the coat of arms of a foreign state. The provision applies where the act does not give rise to criminal liability; in that case the matter proceeds under the administrative track and is subject to the fines fixed in this article. In practice, the very same physical act can fall under different legal regimes, and choosing the correct qualification is often the decisive step — one that is best taken with a lawyer.
The provision protects symbols that carry official public significance in Georgia's international relations. It matters both to individuals facing a first-time charge and to persons who have already been held administratively liable under the same article, because the sanction in the second part of the article is substantially harsher.