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Minister of Justice Discusses the Progress of the Country

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Thursday, 04 May, 2023
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Minister of Justice Discusses the Progress of the Country

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze spoke about the European integration process of Georgia at a meeting held today with the delegation members of the European Affairs Committee of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Georgian side provided the German visitors with detailed information on the current progress towards the implementation of the 12-point recommendations for obtaining the status of a candidate country for EU membership. Rati Bregadze also emphasized the importance of bringing Georgia's legislation closer to EU law and noted that the Ministry of Justice will fully coordinate this process. The relevant legislative initiative is already being discussed by the Parliament, and an electronic platform specially created for this purpose will be launched in the near future.

The role and importance of close cooperation between Georgia and Germany in the process of the country's European integration was also noted.

The members of the delegation noted that the impressions received from the meeting about how Georgia fulfills the recommendations of the European Union are very positive, and they positively assessed the ongoing reforms in the country for this purpose.

The Georgian side expressed hope that the process of the country's European integration will have the unwavering support of Germany.

The Ministry of Justice of Georgia has a close sectoral cooperation with Germany, which was especially strengthened in September 2022, after the visit of the Minister of Justice of Georgia to Germany. In particular:

  • The 2022-2025 cooperation program between the Ministries of Justice of the two countries was signed;
  • partnership relations were strengthened in the direction of improvement of professional training courses in the penitentiary field;
  • In the notary field, an intensive process of experience sharing started and a memorandum of cooperation was signed;
  • The Georgian-German legal forum was decided and for the first time it will be held in Tbilisi on July 5-6 of this year.

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19.05.2026
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According to the Strasbourg Court, Publicly Made Insulting, Obscene, and Degrading Statements Fall Outside the Scope of Freedom of Expression

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg upheld the position of the Ministry of Justice in the case of Miladze v. Georgia, confirming that publicly made insulting, obscene, and degrading statements directed at public officials are not protected under the right to freedom of expression.

The case concerned a video published on the social media platform TikTok in 2022, in which the applicant, civil activist Irakli Miladze, used obscene and insulting language toward the Mayor of Tbilisi, City Hall employees, and police officers. As a result, the national courts imposed a fine of 500 GEL, the minimum penalty provided for by law.

The Strasbourg Court unanimously held that the applicant’s statements did not amount to political criticism or the expression of views on a matter of public interest. According to the Court’s assessment, the language used was intended primarily to humiliate and insult public officials.

The Court also agreed with the reasoning of the national courts, noting that they had properly distinguished between harsh political criticism, which is protected in a democratic society, and personal insults, which are not. The judgment further emphasized that the sanction imposed on the applicant was minimal and proportionate, as he received only the lowest fine available under the law.

Today’s ruling by the Strasbourg Court reaffirmed an important principle: freedom of expression is one of the fundamental values of a democratic society and protects even strong and offensive criticism; however, it does not extend to humiliating or personally insulting statements directed at others, including public officials and civil servants.

The judgment further underscores that the state is entitled to protect political officials and public servants from unjustified verbal abuse and insults, ensuring that they are able to perform their duties in an environment free from attacks that undermine their dignity.

The Court’s assessment once again highlights the fundamental importance of freedom of expression, while clearly establishing that the exercise of this right — particularly on the internet and social media platforms — must not infringe upon the dignity and rights of others.
19.05.2026