Public Defender: ECHR does not protect hate speech or profanity; verdicts depend on evidence in our court

15:21, 12.06.2025

“The Strasbourg Court does not defend hate speech or profanity; this is the standard. The rest depends on the evidence presented in our courts,” stated Public Defender Levan Ioseliani.

A journalist asked Ioseliani how he would evaluate the summoning of journalists, politicians, and civil activists to court over social media posts concerning representatives of the Georgian Dream. In response, Ioseliani noted that the outcome depends on the evidence provided in each specific case.

“The European Court of Human Rights upholds very broad protections for opinions, including those that may be unacceptable or shocking. However, it does not defend hate speech, harassment, incitement to violence, or profanity. There have been numerous rulings on this matter, including in Strasbourg. This is how Article 10 of the Convention is interpreted. Therefore, this is the standard used by the Court, and the final decision depends on the evidence presented in our local courts,” Ioseliani explained.

By - Svetlana Alimova

Politics

Public Defender

ლევან იოსელიანი