The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has condemned the Tbilisi City Court’s ruling against opposition-aligned broadcaster Formula, saying the decision represents a serious threat to media independence and freedom of expression.
In a statement, GYLA said the court’s decision to order Formula to pay 10,000 GEL in damages, combined with a parallel criminal investigation against the broadcaster, amounts to legal pressure on independent media and bears the hallmarks of a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation).
The case stems from a civil lawsuit filed by filmmaker and former minister Goga Khaindrava, who challenged reports aired by Formula on December 20, 2025, and January 17, 2026. The reports alleged, citing an anonymous source, that in 2016-2017 Khaindrava had facilitated the entry of Indian and Pakistani citizens into Georgia in exchange for money, allegedly in coordination with the State Security Service (SSG).
GYLA says the simultaneous use of civil and criminal proceedings creates a significant imbalance and increases pressure on the media. The organization argued that the court’s ruling could further strengthen the prosecution’s criminal case, producing a chilling effect on freedom of expression.
GYLA said the case displays several key SLAPP indicators identified by the Council of Europe and other international bodies, including disproportionate legal claims, the misuse of judicial procedures, coordinated parallel legal actions, and attempts to silence reporting on issues of significant public interest.
The watchdog also noted that Formula has repeatedly reported financial difficulties, arguing that the 10,000 GEL compensation order is particularly punitive in the current environment, where freedom of expression is under increasing pressure.
The organization further stressed that the challenged reporting concerned allegations involving state security, migration policy, and the conduct of public institutions, making it a matter of high public interest.
On July 14, Tbilisi City Court Judge Liana Kajashvili fully upheld Khaindrava’s civil lawsuit, ordering Formula to retract what the court described as “materially false facts” that damaged the plaintiff’s honor and dignity, and to pay 10,000 GEL in moral damages.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation against Formula under Article 373(1) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns false reporting of a crime. Prosecutors said the investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by Khaindrava’s lawyers, who argued that the broadcaster’s report falsely accused him of criminal conduct.
GYLA said assessments by international organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), as well as local civil society groups, indicate that such cases are not isolated incidents but part of broader pressure on Georgia’s media environment.
Image source: Netgazeti
