The High Council of Justice (HCoJ) is set to determine the regulations surrounding photo and video recording within courtrooms. An amendment to the Law on Common Courts is currently under consideration.

Initially, the draft law, introduced in parliament, granted this authority to individual judges. However, during parliamentary deliberations, the draft was revised, and the decision-making power was transferred to the High Council of Justice.

As Archil Gorduladze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, explained to journalists, the motivation behind these amendments stems from concerns that certain groups aim to disrupt court proceedings.

“The primary objective of politically motivated and politicized media representatives is to interfere with the judicial process. Many are attempting to turn court hearings into spectacles rather than ensuring justice is served. Courts exist to administer justice and provide individuals with a fair opportunity to defend their rights within the framework of adversarial proceedings. The court’s role is to make decisions and operate in a peaceful environment. To safeguard this, the amendments stipulate that photography and video recording during court sessions are prohibited unless explicitly authorized by the High Council of Justice for each specific case.

As to public communication, courts will retain the right to distribute footage they produce themselves. Media outlets are free to conduct interviews with involved parties outside the courtroom at any location. The courtroom should not and cannot be transformed into a venue for showmanship,” Gorduladze stated.