President Called Upon to Veto Media Restrictions

A group of journalists has urged President Saakashvili to veto a law banning media video recordings and photo coverage from courtrooms.

Parliament has already approved the measure, but it still remains for the president to sign it into law.

?Back in 1997, when the Georgian parliament passed a law on common courts enabling video coverage, you [President Saakashvili] were chairman of the parliamentary committee for legal affairs. You were one of the initiators of judicial reform and very often you demonstrated to the public a commitment to transparency and the protection of public interests,? an open letter to the president reads.

The letter is signed mainly by journalists from the Rezonansi newspaper, but all are welcome to sign it.

?We ask you to once again protect the democratic achievements to which you have contributed the lion?s share and veto these amendments to the law on common courts. By doing so, you will once again confirm your loyalty to democratic principles,? the letter reads.

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