---
title: "Desecration of the symbol of an international organisation or the flag of a foreign state (Art. 174¹⁸)"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/administrative-and-public-law-en/desecration-of-the-symbol-of-an-international-organisation-or-the-flag-of-a-foreign-en"
field: "Administrative & Public Law"
description: "Art. 174¹⁸ — desecration of an international organisation's symbol or a foreign flag: 1,000 or 2,000 GEL fine, up to 15 days. Legal.ge."
updated: "2026-10-14"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Desecration of the symbol of an international organisation or the flag of a foreign state (Art. 174¹⁸)

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/administrative-and-public-law-en/desecration-of-the-symbol-of-an-international-organisation-or-the-flag-of-a-foreign-en

## 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.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/administrative-and-public-law-en/desecration-of-the-symbol-of-an-international-organisation-or-the-flag-of-a-foreign-en

### How much is the fine for desecrating the symbol of an international organisation or a foreign state's flag?

For a physical person the fine is 1,000 GEL. Where the offence is committed by a person who is already an administratively liable person, the fine rises to 2,000 GEL, or administrative imprisonment of up to 15 days may be imposed.

### Which symbols does the article protect?

The official symbols of the EU, NATO, or any other international organisation of which Georgia is a member, and the flag or coat of arms of any state with which Georgia has diplomatic relations — provided the symbol was erected or displayed by a public institution.

### Can this article lead to imprisonment?

Yes. Under its second part, a physical person may be subjected to administrative imprisonment for up to 15 days, alongside or instead of a fine of up to 2,000 GEL, when the offence is committed by an administratively liable person.

### Does the article apply to every act of damaging a foreign flag?

No. The protected symbol must have been erected or displayed by a public institution, and the act must not give rise to criminal liability. Whether these conditions are met in your case requires examination of the specific facts.