GDI’S Report: SLAPP Cases in Georgia, a new threat to media freedom
Tbilisi. GDI publishes the special Report on SLAPP cases in Georgia.
“Legal disputes initiated by high-ranking political officials, members of the Georgian Dream, and others related to them on the grounds of defamation have recently become one of the tools for the restriction of media freedom. According to the observation of Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), in 2021-2023, the so-called attacks against critical media and human rights defenders initiated and significantly increased the tendency to address the Courts with SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) lawsuits. A SLAPP represents an apparently groundless defamation lawsuit initiated by politically or financially influential entities/individuals. The aim of these lawsuits is not to protect honor, dignity, or company reputation but to silence publicly active citizens and create financial barriers for them. However, SLAPPs also have a “chilling effect” beyond individual cases, undermining the development of a healthy and pluralistic environment where citizens can exercise civil initiatives”.
Source: gdi.ge
