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Georgian Delegation Presents to UN Human Rights Committee a Report on the Implemented Reforms

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Wednesday, 06 July, 2022
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Georgian Delegation Presents to UN Human Rights Committee a Report on the Implemented Reforms

On July 5-6, 2022, the Georgian delegation, under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili, presented to the United Nations Human Rights Committee the 5th periodic report of Georgia on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Georgian party provided comprehensive information to the UN Human Rights Committee after hearing the previous periodical report - about the legislative and institutional reforms carried out by the state from 2014 to the present day, which are aimed at the effective provision of human rights in Georgia and the timely fulfillment of international obligations.

At the meeting of the Committee, the delegation of Georgia focused on the challenges of human rights protection in the occupied territories of Georgia. The members of the Committee were provided with detailed information on the historical decisions made by the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court in the Hague, which legally confirmed the fact of the Russian Federation's occupation of the territories of Georgia and their responsibility for the violations committed during the 2008 war.

The Georgian party also provided the members of the Committee with information on the reform of the judicial system; on the steps taken to strengthen the penitentiary system and law enforcement agencies; on anti-corruption measures; on ensuring freedom of expression and assembly; on electoral reform; on enforcement of anti-discrimination legislation; on the reforms carried out by Georgia to eliminate violence against women and ensure the protection of the rights of children and persons with disabilities.

Within the framework of the discussion, the Georgian delegation also answered the questions of the members of the UN Human Rights Committee on current issues in Georgia in terms of human rights protection. It is significant that the UN Human Rights Committee has positively assessed the mechanisms introduced by Georgia to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the UN monitoring bodies. After the discussion, the recommendations of the Committee will be sent to the Georgian delegation in writing, and the report on their implementation will be sent in 2024.

The Georgian delegation included representatives of the following agencies of executive, legislative and judicial authorities:

The Government administration;

The Parliament;

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

The Ministry of Internal Affairs;

The Ministry of IDPs from Occupied Territories, of Labor, Health and Social Protection;

Office of the Minister of State in Matters of Reconciliation and Civil Equality of Georgia;

The Supreme Council of Justice;

Tbilisi City Court;

The General Prosecutor's Office;

The State Security Service;

The Special Investigation Service;

The Personal Data Protection Service;

The Central Election Commission;

The National Communications Commission.

The 5th periodic report was prepared and sent in writing in 2020 with the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the involvement of other state agencies.

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Memorial Ceremony for Victims of the 1990s Armed Conflict Held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, members of the Government, and Minister of Justice Paata Salia attended the civil funeral service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi for individuals transferred from the occupied region of Abkhazia who had gone missing during the armed conflict of the 1990s.

Paata Salia honored the memory of the deceased and extended his condolences to their families and loved ones.

Through the joint efforts of the Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and within the framework of a coordination mechanism involving Georgian and Abkhaz participants, 11 missing persons were identified and returned to their families. Among them were 2 military personnel and 9 civilians.
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