Parliament Endorses the New Law on Freedom of Speech

The Parliament of Georgia adopted with second hearing the Law on Freedom of Speech with 104 votes to 2 on June 17.

The major novelty of the document is that a burden of proof lies on a plaintiff against the journalists, while the owner of the media company and not the journalist will be held responsible in case of slander.

One of the co-authors of the document MP Giga Bokeria says that the draft law fully protects the journalists? rights.

?By this law we [the officials] defend the interests of our most severe critics,? MP Giga Bokeria said on June 17.
 
Chairperson of the parliamentary committee for human rights Elene Tevdoradze also welcomed the draft law; however added that ?it is written in a difficult language that creates a danger for double interpretation.?

The draft law will be enforced after the adoption by the third hearing in the Parliament.