Judge Tornike Kochkiani fined Tamuna Giorgadze, an active protest participant, 3,000 GEL for cursing Bidzina Ivanishvili on her personal Facebook page.
Giorgadze did not attend the hearing, instead waiting for the decision in the courthouse yard. She told journalists she had posted on her personal page and “does not consider cursing an insult.”
She said she plans to appeal the ruling.
Several similar cases are being heard daily in Georgian courts, submitted by the Department for Combating Hate Speech. At expedited hearings, the Ministry of Internal Affairs accuses citizens of insulting politicians and others on social media.
Since June 1, when inspectors from the new department began what officials describe as “monitoring” social networks, several people have been fined between 2,000 and 4,000 GEL.
Opposition figures and critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party say the move amounts to an attempt to restrict freedom of expression under the pretext of tackling hate speech.
Related stories:
Lawyer Tutberidze fined GEL 4,000 over comment about MP Tsilosani
Citizen fined GEL 2,000 over Facebook comment about UNM’s Sanikidze
