Photo and Video-Recording Might Be Re-Allowed At Trials

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

Parliament started discussion of photo and video-recording at trials. Ministry of Justice initiated to allow photo and video-recording at court proceedings. Part of MPs believes the bill of amendments shall be publicly discussed and it will not be correct if the bill is discussed in harry.

On December 16, the MPs heard the report of the deputy minister of justice Aleksandre Baramidze about amendments drafted for the Law on Common Courts.

 “Society will not be able to control the judiciary system unless photo and video-cameras are allowed into courtrooms. It will “compel” judges to pass fair and well-grounded judgments. It is high time for the judiciary system to gain public trust back,” said one of the initiators of the amendments Aleksandre Baramidze.

Notice “Photo and Video-Recording Prohibited” appeared in Georgian courts in November of 2007. Journalists faced first problems at that time. Human rights defenders had harsh reaction on the prohibition of photo and video-recording.

“By prohibiting photo and video-recording at trials, the government established direct control on judiciary system. Consequently, society had feeling of powerless and partial court. People lost trust to the court. They could not “look into” court rooms. The judgments became less reliable for people. Simply to say, court door was closed for the society. So, the initiative of the Ministry of Justice is acceptable and it will change much. I think, court judgments will be more impartial and it will assist the court to restore its lost reputation,” said Ana Chapidze, lawyer of the Kutaisi office of the Georgian Center for Psycho-Social and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims.

Georgian Young Lawyers Association also prepared several recommendations about audio-video recording at trials. However, those recommendations remained without response.

“We released recommendations about audio-video recording of trials. The counter-argument of the judiciary authority was that it was impossible to work and pass judgments in presence of cameras. However, it does not mean that we should ensure order at court hearings at the expense of public interest. A year ago, we raised this question and they promised to start working in this direction,” former chairperson of the GYLA Tamar Chugoshvili told humanrights.ge several months ago.

The majority is ready to hear recommendations about this issue.

“It will be good if we dedicate public discussions to this issue with participation of experts and relevant nongovernmental organizations,” said Vakhtang Khmaladze from the parliamentary majority.