“Court hearings cannot serve as grounds for disorder and chaos. Every court proceeding must be conducted within the framework of the law, and its coverage must also adhere to legal standards,” stated Davit Matikashvili, a member of the parliamentary majority.

According to Matikashvili, the decision to permit video and audio recordings of court sessions will rest with the court.

“Audio recording is already permitted in courtrooms; information such as what was said during hearings is provided to the parties based on procedural norms. It is then their right to share that information with others or not. Regarding recording, the proposed legislation states that obtaining permission will be at the court’s discretion. Ultimately, what occurs in court is naturally subject to the judge’s decisions,” explained Davit Matikashvili.

Amendments to the Law on Common Courts also govern media coverage of court proceedings.

The draft law stipulates that photography, filming, video recording, and broadcasting are prohibited within court premises—including the courtroom and courthouse—unless conducted by the court itself or by an authorised person.

Furthermore, the draft law allows the court to distribute photo, film, and video materials from the trial, provided this does not violate the law. It also states that video and audio recordings of court sessions will only be permitted upon a substantiated request, with a motivated decision issued by the judge.