19 Georgian journalists file ECHR complaint over alleged violence during 2023 protests

Lawyer Tornike Miginieshvili says a complaint has been filed with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on behalf of 19 journalists in connection with the protests that took place in 2023 during the first adoption of Georgia’s so-called “agents law.”

According to Miginieshvili, the journalists were affected during the demonstrations in March 2023, when Parliament initially passed the draft law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence,” widely referred to by critics as the “Russian law.” He claims that none of the incidents of alleged violence or obstruction of professional activities from that period have been investigated as of August 11, 2025, and that even the review of video evidence has not been completed. He added that only some of the journalists involved have been granted official victim status.

In March 2023, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the bill in its first reading but later withdrew it after mass protests and international criticism, pledging not to reintroduce it. However, the proposal returned to Parliament in April 2024 with amended terminology, replacing the phrase “agent of foreign influence” with “organization carrying the interests of a foreign power.”

By late 2024 and early 2025 ruling Georgian Dream adopted a package of laws that civil society groups have described as restrictive for independent media, NGOs, opposition parties, and dissenting voices, while government representatives have defended the measures as necessary for transparency and national security.