Seminar titled Media After Adoption of the 2004 Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression was held on November 29 in Courtyard Marriott Hotel upon Liberty Institute’s initiative and financial support of the Council of Europe. In addition to Georgian media representatives and experts, renowned international experts of media ethics and law—Gent University professor Dirk Voorhoof and Claude Jean Bertrand of Paris University took part in the event.

Law of Georgia on Freedom of Speech and Expression was drafted by Liberty Institute and adopted by parliament in 2004.

The attending experts noted that the law adopted one year ago is very progressive and fully in line with international standards. According to Woorhoof, the document is even more progressive than similar laws in established European democracies.

Current state of affairs in the Georgian media, journalists’ rights and freedom of speech were also discussed. Liberty Institute director Levan Ramishvili suggested that adoption of liberal legislation per se does not set enough ground for meeting highest standards in the field of freedom of speech and expression.

“The law is just a tool and when nobody uses a tool it becomes useless. I hope that with time this law will find proper application and freedom of speech will be furthered in Georgia,” he stated.