According to the Media Ombudsman, “the Strasbourg Court has accepted a complaint from 19 journalists and cameramen in the so-called “Russian Law” case.”

“On September 26, the European Court of Human Rights informed the Media Ombudsman in writing that it had initiated proceedings in the so-called “Russian Law” case. The case “Kokaia and Others v. Georgia” describes in detail the persecution of a number of critical media journalists and cameramen in March 2023. They were targeted for their coverage of large-scale protests of citizens against the so-called “Russian Law” (the Law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”). By interfering with the work of the media, law enforcement officers tried to prevent the coverage of the crackdown on peaceful citizens and use of excessive force. A video report prepared by the Media Ombudsman is attached to the case materials: https://youtu.be/yng9m7viumU?si=VxHRues9XSbew9bw

The Media Ombudsman continues to provide legal assistance to critical media. We believe that the assessments of the European Court of Human Rights will have a special impact on saving democratic values ​​in Georgia," reads the statement.