Tamara Chergoleishvili, a politician from Georgia’s pro-Western Federalist Party, did not bother attending her court hearing last week. She already knew the outcome. The Tbilisi City Court fined her $1,500 for “insulting” two senior officials of the ruling Georgian Dream party on social media.

Under legislative amendments rushed through Parliament in February, Georgians can now be fined up to 4,000 lari (roughly $1,500) or face up to 45 days of detention for using language deemed “insulting” toward public officials. Terms such as “slave,” “traitor,” “scum,” or “bastard” posted on social media are now grounds for prosecution. The government calls it combating hate speech. The reality is that it is criminalizing dissent, one fine at a time. Chergoleishvili’s punishment is designed to send a message to every Georgian who dares criticize power: you’ll pay the price.