10-06-2025
Tbilisi
Tbilisi City Court Judge Closed the Hearing to Media Representatives, Including Those with Filming Accreditation

On June 10, 2025, Judge Nino Galustashvili closed the hearing of 11 individuals detained during pro-European protests and expelled media representatives from the courtroom without any explanation. Notably, even those journalists who had official permission to film were asked to leave.

Previously, during earlier stages of the same case, some hearings at the Tbilisi City Court had been partially closed — barring supporters, family members, and friends of the defendants from attending — but media outlets with filming accreditation were still allowed to cover the proceedings.

According to the online outlet Publika, the judge’s decision followed a comment made from the courtroom, noting that participants had not been allowed to eat during the hearing. Despite journalists requesting clarification, the judge only announced the decision, providing no further explanation.

In recent months, the courts have increasingly imposed unjustified barriers on the media, hindering journalists from fulfilling their professional duties.

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10-06-2025
Removal from a court hearing
Court
Interference with professional duties
Tbilisi