During the hearing on December 17 of the so-called “October 4 case,” involving 13 detained individuals, Tbilisi City Court Judge Tamar Makharoblidze stated in court, in response to television journalists’ request to briefly leave the courtroom for a live broadcast, that if the journalists left, they would not be allowed to return. According to her explanation, media representatives could cover the trial only after its conclusion. All 13 individuals are charged with group violence and attempting to seize or block a strategic facility the President’s Palace.

Journalists have stated that, under conditions where photography and video recording are prohibited in court, leaving the courtroom effectively deprives them of the opportunity to follow the proceedings and provide the public with complete information. This is particularly problematic in multi-hour, all-day hearings, where leaving the courtroom during the trial means missing the remainder of the proceedings entirely.

According to media representatives, against the backdrop of already limited resources, this practice makes it virtually impossible for journalists to cover court proceedings of public interest effectively.

The current practice of media coverage of court proceedings is linked to amendments to the Organic Law “On Common Courts,” adopted on June 26 under an expedited procedure. These amendments significantly restricted media access to court hearings, including banning photography and video recording within court buildings and abolishing the previously existing special coverage regime for broadcasters.