Personal Expression & Visibility Timeline.

The UN reported no effective accountability or legal remedies for human rights violations in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Council of Europe Assembly found systemic disregard for freedom of expression.

The report found court decisions against critics reflect a lack of judicial independence and European Court judgments unimplemented.

Adopted on 13 October and promulgated on 21 October 2026, in force on 24 October 2026, the Act replaced the 2021 ban on portraying or promoting homosexuality and gender change to minors with a general ban on content…

Adds $2,000 daily civil penalties for governmental entities flying flags outside a neutral official list; signed 31 March 2026 (named only).

The new Constitution replaced the 1995 text and keeps guarantees of free speech, assembly and association.

Criminalised same-sex relations, LGBTQIA+ acts, same-sex marriage and LGBTQIA+ associations, and exposed organisations and individuals supporting LGBTQI purposes to fines of up to 500 million CFA francs.

Made public apology of homosexuality, bisexuality or transsexuality in any form, and funding or supporting its promotion, an offence with three to seven years in prison.

The UN reported no effective accountability or legal remedies for human rights violations in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Commission found the inherited judicial system must be transformed and raised concerns about judicial independence.

Gives a right to adopt and manifest sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Declared SB 12 (2023) unconstitutional and permanently enjoined it in August 2026.

The new Fundamental Law, in force immediately, replaced the 2023 law; it organises the State but grants no enforceable rights to expression, association or assembly.

Banned homosexuality and "similar practices" and any behaviour likely to promote them, with two to five years in prison.

Deplored the reduced space for a free judiciary and civil society.

The regional law protects gender expression and the right to live according to one's gender identity.

Found the 1997 Constitution never implemented and association and assembly completely denied.

Recognises the right to freely manifest sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, and to express identity through dress and appearance.

Bars school flags regarding sexual orientation or gender (in force 1 July 2025).

The UN reported civic space remained closed despite constitutional guarantees.

The military took power and declared the Constitution suspended, keeping Parliament and the High Constitutional Court.

Limits flags on government property to an official list and bars state-property flags regarding sexual orientation or gender.

The Council condemned violence against people exercising expression, assembly and association rights and called for an end to martial law.

Reduced the judiciary to a body coordinated by the presidency and removed the ban on press censorship.

The UN found freedom of expression had significantly regressed and no independent civil society exists.

The Constitution guarantees peaceful assembly and association; the audit used the version in force from November 2025.

Found arbitrary detention without court oversight and a justice system unable to act.

The transitional declaration lets the president appoint the whole Higher Constitutional Court.

Bars non-approved flags on government property and in schools from 7 May 2025, with $500 daily fines.

The Committee found party influence undermines judicial independence.

UN experts found the federal trial of rights defenders deeply flawed.

The de facto law regulates media, dress and conduct, enforced by inspectors without judicial oversight.

UN experts found the federal trial of rights defenders deeply flawed.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

This audit reviewed the Constitution and the 2024 school education amendment, the only identity-specific rule found.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

UN experts found the federal trial of rights defenders deeply flawed.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

UN experts found the federal trial of rights defenders deeply flawed.

Governing text for expression, association and assembly.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

The Committee regretted further suppression of civil and political space.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Made any public or private speech, image, writing or act that approves, encourages, promotes or facilitates same-sex sexual acts an offence with seven years in prison.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Reformed the rights chapter, including article 12 on the right to manifest sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Found the judiciary lacks independence and courts did not protect protesters' rights.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.

Courts began punishing public display of rainbow symbols as extremist symbols, with fines and arrests.