According to Dimitri Gvritishvili, a member of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, restrictions on bringing technical devices including mobile phones and laptops into courtrooms apply to everyone, including the media, lawyers, and prosecutors.
In late June, the Georgian Dream–controlled parliament adopted, in an expedited two-day process, a package of amendments that restrict media coverage of court hearings. Photo and video recording, as well as audio recording, were banned on the entire court premises even in the courtyard.
As an alternative, TV crews were left only with the option of recording comments from participants and attendees at the entrance. Online media outlets attempted to document hearings as thoroughly as possible through live blogs and other formats. After the ban, several outlets, including Netgazeti, began live-blogging directly from courtrooms to continue reporting.
In September, the Department of Common Courts, operating under the High Council of Justice, purchased furniture for 19 courts across the country including lockers for storing mobile devices.
This raised questions about whether Georgian Dream was preparing to ban mobile phones inside courtrooms altogether. The Council had not responded to media inquiries, prompting the Charter of Journalistic Ethics to request clarification on whether journalists would be prevented from bringing phones into court. The chair of the Bar Association, Davit Asatiani, said he had communicated with representatives of the judiciary and that lawyers would not be restricted from bringing mobile phones into court.
On November 19, speaking to media in parliament, Gvritishvili confirmed that the restriction on bringing technical devices into the courtroom applies universally.
“The lockers exist because, for the purpose of enforcing the law, the court must store the phone and then return it to its owner once the hearing ends… I don’t see anything unusual in this,” he said.
According to him, although recordings inside courtrooms were already prohibited, secretly filmed videos were still being circulated.
Gvritishvili could not specify when, in practice, the regulation would begin to be enforced meaning when journalists would no longer be allowed to bring devices inside.
“The law entered into force at the end of June 2025. From that moment, recording in courtrooms is prohibited, and therefore it is only logical that any technical device capable of recording should not be allowed inside courtrooms. If this is not enforced yet, that may be a matter for discussion, but the regulation is in effect, and the bringing of any technical device should not be permitted.”
When asked whether this applies equally to lawyers, prosecutors, attendees, and journalists, he replied:
“The regulation applies to everyone.”
He did not confirm the Bar Association chair’s claim that the rule would not apply to lawyers.
“I don’t know why he reassured them or why he interprets the law this way… I don’t know who has arranged what. As a lawyer and as a judge, I am explaining the content of the regulation it applies to everyone without exception. If someone is spreading false information, that’s their problem.”
Asked how, in the modern era, a lawyer is expected to provide a proper defense without a laptop or phone, Gvritishvili responded:
“In short, that is what the law says.”
He said he sees no issue with the law or its constitutionality, adding that anyone who does can appeal to the Constitutional Court.