The officer told me not to film — do I have to comply?

Legally — no. Under the Constitution of Georgia (Art. 17) you have the right to freely obtain and disseminate information, and there is no specific ban on filming the police performing official duties in a public place, either in the Law "On Police" or in the Code of Administrative Offences. The officer's "no filming" is their preference, not a legal norm.

In practice it is more complicated. Openly filming into the officer's face often escalates the situation: the phone may be taken "for inspection", they may reach for Art. 173 of the CAO ("failure to comply with lawful demands"), or the check may be dragged out.

If you decide to record — the safer options are:

• Audio rather than video. Warn openly: "I am starting an audio recording" — a less confrontational gesture.
• Hold the phone to the side, not in the face — so the frame captures the scene rather than delivering an offensive angle.
• If they forbid it and you decide not to argue openly — a voice recorder in your pocket is not prohibited by law.

Important: recording is allowed, but publishing the recording without the officer's consent is a separate offence under Art. 158, part 2, of the Criminal Code of Georgia (up to 5 years). Use the recording only for your own defence — as part of a complaint, given to your lawyer, or to an investigator.