Latest news with #MinistryofJustice
JAMnews
an hour ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
In six months, Georgia passed five laws restricting media. Here's a breakdown
Laws restricting the media in Georgia In the spring session of 2025 alone, the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament rushed through five legislative amendments that significantly restrict media activity and free speech in Georgia. These laws effectively ban foreign-funded media, tighten state control over outlets, and allow authorities to punish journalists for criticizing the government. There are already first cases of these laws being applied in practice. For example, one Georgian media outlet was unable to receive grant funding it had won through a competition, journalists were summoned to court and fined for critical social media posts, and more. In this article, we explain which new laws and legislative amendments Georgian Dream has passed and how they restrict the work of independent media. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) The 'Foreign Agents Registration Act' (FARA), which Georgian Dream calls a Georgian version of the US FARA and claims is a word-for-word translation, was introduced on February 19, 2025, and passed on April 1. However, unlike its American counterpart, which targets lobbying organizations, the Georgian FARA specifically targets media outlets and civil society organizations. The Georgian FARA requires media outlets receiving foreign funding to register in a dedicated registry (already established by the Ministry of Justice) as 'agents of a foreign power (principal).' If an organization fails to register, it faces a fine of 10,000 GEL [$3,690]. After that, it will be fined 20,000 GEL [about $7,380] monthly for failing to submit a financial declaration. Additionally, any individual or employee connected to such an organization who is asked by law enforcement to provide information under special supervision but refuses will be fined 5,000 GEL [about $1,845]. 🟥 The law also includes criminal liability: directors or board members face up to 5 years in prison if the organization is not registered. It's important to understand that independent media in Georgia cannot survive through self-funding—it's simply not possible. They all rely on international grants, meaning that with the adoption of Georgian FARA, such outlets will likely cease to exist. FARA came into force 60 days after its adoption, on June 1. Previously, Georgian Dream passed a similar law called the 'Transparency of Foreign Influence Act,' but it failed to work—no independent media outlet or civil society organization registered as a 'foreign agent.' Amendments to the Georgian Broadcasting Law On April 1, parliament unanimously adopted another legislative package – amendments to the Law on Broadcasting – that bans broadcasters from receiving foreign funding. The ban covers not only grants but also services purchased from broadcasters by a 'foreign power,' as well as direct or indirect funding or co-funding of program production and broadcasting. Accepting foreign funding in exchange for airing social ads is also prohibited. Due to an underdeveloped advertising market in Georgia, government pressure, and other factors, many TV and radio channels have long struggled with a lack of advertising revenue. Statistics show ad shares are shrinking on critical channels while growing on state-run broadcasters. These changes, therefore, pose a major threat to independent broadcasters. 🟥 The amendments also strengthen censorship risks by granting the National Communications Commission the authority to interfere in media content. For example, the Commission can now assess issues such as factual accuracy, impartiality, fairness, and the right of reply in media reports. Exactly two months after these amendments took effect, Georgian Dream filed a complaint with the Communications Commission against three critical TV channels – Pirveli, Formula, and Mtavari Arkhi — for using phrases like 'prisoners of the regime,' 'illegal parliament,' and 'so-called parliament' in their reports, programs, and social media posts. Georgian Dream was also displeased that the country's informal ruler, Bidzina Ivanishvili, was referred to as an 'oligarch.' Broadcasters viewed these complaints as an attempt at paralyzing censorship. The Communications Commission had the authority to fine the broadcasters based on these complaints. Everyone expected it would do so. However, while the Commission ruled that the channels had indeed violated the law, it decided not to impose fines. Amendments to the Georgian Grants Law On April 16, Georgian Dream adopted another legislative amendment, this time to the Law on Grants. 🟥 Under these changes, no foreign grant can be issued in Georgia without government approval. This means that if any foreign fund or organization – for example, the European Union or the United Nations – wants to support a Georgian NGO, it must first obtain official permission from the Georgian Dream government. To issue a grant, the donor must submit a draft agreement to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is responsible for implementing these amendments (the bureau's director is appointed by the Prime Minister). The draft must include all details: the grant amount, purpose, and duration. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has the right to review the project for up to three months or longer before deciding whether to approve the grant. 🟥 If a donor dares to issue a grant without government approval, the recipient will be fined an amount twice the size of the grant. There are already first victims of these amendments: on June 11, it became known that the online outlet Tabula would not be able to receive a £50,000 grant from the UK government intended to inform the public about the municipal elections scheduled for autumn 2025. Reportedly, the UK government, following the law, sought permission from Georgian Dream's government to issue the grant, but the Georgian side delayed its response so much that the UK canceled the project altogether. Amendments to the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression On June 18, Georgian Dream introduced, and on June 26 fast-tracked, amendments to the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression. The changes mainly affect the section on defamation. The definition of defamation was altered: the component of 'harm caused,' previously required for a statement to be recognized as defamatory, was removed. Moreover, whereas the plaintiff previously had to prove they were defamed, now the defendant must prove that what they said is true. Additionally, if the court deems that publishing a retraction is insufficient, the defendant must also compensate for moral or material damages. 🟥 The most dangerous amendment is the requirement to disclose sources — protections for journalistic sources have been abolished. From now on, refusing to disclose a source or professional secrecy alone can be grounds for a ruling against the defendant. These amendments have already been enforced: six journalists were summoned to Tbilisi City Court for critical social media posts about Georgian Dream politicians, accused of 'insults' for using words like 'slave' and 'scoundrel.' The court found all six guilty and fined them 3,000–4,000 GEL (about $1,100–$1,400). Amendments to the Organic Law on General Courts Also introduced on June 18 and adopted on June 26, amendments to the Organic Law on General Courts fundamentally change the rules for covering court proceedings. 🟥 These changes make it nearly impossible to cover trials, as photo and video recording is now banned not only in courtrooms during hearings but also in hallways and even outside court buildings. Back in 2013, when Georgian Dream first came to power, it repealed a previous government ban on trial coverage. The 2013 amendments allowed public broadcasters to film and broadcast open court sessions without restrictions and required them to share footage with other outlets. If the public broadcaster did not cover a trial, other TV channels could do so with prior permission. The current amendments reintroduce the ban at a time when Georgia has over 50 political prisoners, all opposition leaders are jailed, and public interest in court cases is high. Past trial coverage exposed the absurdity of charges and police falsehoods. The amendment took effect on June 30. From now on, media outlets must request permission from the High Council of Justice to film trials. Despite numerous hearings since, the Council has not granted a single filming permit. Cover photo: ©️Media April News from Georgia
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Dorset coroner urges crack down on prison 'hooch'
A coroner has urged the government to clamp down on prisoners accessing illicitly brewed alcohol and medication after an inmate died after consuming Jeans, 32, was serving a sentence at HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset when he took the "hooch" and four drugs. He was found collapsed in his cell in November from Portsmouth, had a history of mental health issues and was anxious about the impending outcome of a parole hearing when he took them, a jury at Dorset Coroner's Court in Bournemouth heard.A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We will carefully consider the coroner's findings and will respond to the report in due course." The jury found the levels of drugs and alcohol separately would not have killed Jeans. But his posture resulted in fatal respiratory depression, which he had not was found to have taken pregabalin, used to treat epilepsy and anxiety, and the antidepressant mirtazapine. Jeans also took the opioid painkiller dihydrocodeine and quetiapine, which is used to treat mental health conditions. He had not been prescribed any of them. But Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin said Jeans had "excessive amounts of medication he was prescribed and had previously been prescribed and [had been] discontinued" in his government should adopt national policies to address hooch and how prisoners access medication in jail, she told inspectors in January that alcohol and drugs were easy to get hold of at the jail, near Shaftesbury. HM Inspectorate of Prisons found its culture had deteriorated since a visit in 2022. Drugs, tobacco and mobile phones were smuggled into it stuffed inside dead rats, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said in MoJ and other bodies responsible for care at the jail must respond to Mrs Griffin's concerns by 19 family said they hope his death would lead to more resources going into prisons, which they said "will in turn help prevent other families going through the same heartache".They added: "Serving time in prison is about accountability but it must also provide rehabilitation."It is crucial that prisoners with mental health and substance misuse problems are protected so that one day they can get back on track and return to the community." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Newsroom
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsroom
When it's worth waiting for democracy
Undemocratic and a breach of human rights. That's what most experts and officials think of the Government's proposed changes to the electoral law. Last week Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced a suite of changes around who can vote and how they do so. Those include more opportunity for digital enrolment methods and introduce automatic enrolment updates. But the big one is the moving of the enrolment deadline. At the last election, you could rock up on election day, enrol and cast your vote at the same time. But under this bill New Zealanders would have to enrol 13 days before election day to be eligible to vote. Goldsmith says it's to ensure a final election result is achieved sooner but he's being met with fierce critics, including from some within his own party who think the change takes things a step too far. While entities like the Ministry of Justice can, and do, offer advice in the form of policy papers and regulatory impact statements, electoral law expert Graeme Edgeler says the final decision falls on the shoulders of who New Zealanders have elected to represent them – the politicians. 'The Government and the MPs are the ones that are elected, so they get to make the policy calls and argue for them and the opposition, if they want to, gets to argue against them,' he says. Edgeler says the Ministry of Justice had its own suggestions for reducing the number of special votes, for example, automatic enrolment updates. 'So if you tell MSD, 'Here's my new address,' they'll tell the Electoral Commission, 'Hey, this person has updated their address with us'; the Electoral Commission will see person's already enrolled … and so your enrolment should be updated automatically now,' he says. The Government took this suggestion on board, but Edgeler says stopping enrolment 13 days before election day takes things a step further. Goldsmith told RNZ that people don't start coalition negotiations until they know the final outcome. But while it might be a political preference to wait until the special votes are counted, Edgeler says there's nothing legally stopping politicians from starting negotiations as soon as election day finishes. 'The John Key-led National government, when it was first elected, it had its coalition negotiations complete and John Key was sworn in as Prime Minister before the special votes were announced,' he says. Edgeler says that's because the initial count on election night made the result clear, and he thinks that was the case with the last election as well. 'Prime Minister Chris Hipkins came out on election night and said, 'We've lost, we're not going to be the next government,' he says. National, Act and NZ First could have started coalition negotiations that same day if they had wanted to, so Edgeler doesn't think special votes delaying coalition negotiations is a good enough reason to push the enrolment deadline out to 13 days. Newsroom's political editor Laura Walters confirms that waiting until the final result is announced before starting negotiations is the preference of some political leaders. 'Winston Peters, the New Zealand First Leader, he doesn't like to actually start negotiations proper, if you will, until they have that final result back,' she says. Walters says Peters told her advanced enrolment also benefited political parties. 'He said if people don't enrol ahead of that voting period how do they know who they're campaigning to, who their message should be pushed towards,' she says. David Seymour was more blunt in his support of the change, saying only 'dropkicks' enrol on election day. But Walters says those 'dropkicks' include quite a broad sector of society. 'What we do know from Electoral Commission data is that these people tend to be younger, we've also seen a higher proportion of Māori and Pasifika and Asian, but especially Māori,' she says. Walters adds renters and people who move around a lot and forget to update their enrolment details as people who might also be caught out by these changes. Exactly how many people will be impacted by this change is unclear, but if last election is anything to go by, Walters expects the number of people impacted is in the hundreds of thousands. 'There were 450,000 people who registered or enrolled to vote during that advanced voting period and 110,000 people did that on election day,' she says. It's these figures the Attorney-General Judith Collins referred to in her report examining whether or not there was enough justified reason behind the changes to the election law. She ruled that denying voters the political franchise is a 'heavy price' to pay just to have the election result a week or two sooner. Aside from the automatic enrolment update Walters says reaction to the bill has been mostly negative. 'Essentially people are saying nothing should ever be done to suppress or reduce the number of people who are able to vote. Anyone who is eligible to vote, eligible to register to vote, should be given every opportunity to exercise that right. 'Is this worth it? Should the Government and the Electoral Commission be bearing a little bit more administrative cost, a little bit more administrative burden, maybe waiting a little bit longer after the election to get the results, isn't that just the cost of democracy?'
Al Jazeera
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,252
Here is how things stand on Wednesday, July 30: Fighting Ukraine's Ministry of Justice said 17 people were killed and another 42 were injured in a Russian attack on a prison near the city of Zaporizhzhia. 'This attack once again demonstrates a gross violation of international humanitarian law by the armed forces of the Russian Federation,' the ministry said in a statement shared on Telegram. A Russian attack killed five people and injured three as they waited to receive humanitarian aid in the village of Novoplatonivka in Kharkiv, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said in a post on Facebook. A Russian air attack on a hospital killed three people, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman, in the Ukrainian city of Kamyanske, Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Ukrainian military administration in Zaporizhia, said. A Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training ground killed three soldiers and wounded 18, Ukraine's Ground Forces said in a post on Telegram. Serhiy Lysak, head of the Ukrainian Dnipropetrovsk military administration, said two people were killed, including a 75-year-old woman, in separate Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa. A Ukrainian bomb killed a man and wounded another in Russian-occupied Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, the head of the Moscow-installed authorities in Donetsk, said, according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency. Three people were killed and more than 50 apartments damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack on Salsk in Russia's Rostov Region, Acting Governor Yury Slyusar said on Telegram. The drone attack also left 2,800 residents without power and saw train services suspended, Slyusar said. Russian forces seized the settlements of Temyrivka in the Zaporizhia region in southern Ukraine and Novoukrainka in the eastern Donetsk region, TASS reported, citing Russia's Ministry of Defence. Politics and Diplomacy United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia '10 days from today' if Moscow showed no progress towards ending the war, renewing the terms he set out a day earlier. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia had 'taken note' of Trump's deadline, which was shorter than the 50 days he had set out earlier in the month. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday it had summoned Norway's charge d'affaires to protest over restrictive measures introduced by the Nordic country in July against Russian fishing vessels. Regional security A Colombian national acting on behalf of Russian intelligence carried out two arson attacks in Poland last year, before setting fire to a bus depot in the Czech Republic, the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW) said on Tuesday.
Ya Biladi
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
King Mohammed VI grants royal pardon to 19,673 people on Throne Day
On the occasion of Throne Day, King Mohammed VI has granted a royal pardon to 19,673 individuals, including both inmates and those on conditional release, as part of an exceptional humanitarian gesture that reflects the monarch's enduring compassion and commitment to justice. According to a statement from the Ministry of Justice, 2,415 people received pardons under the traditional Throne Day amnesty: Among 2,239 inmates currently serving sentences: 16 were fully pardoned from the remainder of their prison terms 2,218 had their sentences reduced 5 had life sentences commuted to fixed-term prison terms Among 176 individuals not currently in custody: 40 were pardoned from their entire or remaining prison sentence 12 were pardoned from prison sentences but must still pay fines 111 had their fines canceled 12 were pardoned from both prison sentences and fines 1 individual was pardoned from both the remaining prison sentence and the fine In an unprecedented move, King Mohammed VI also extended the pardon to 17,258 additional individuals, selected based on specific criteria: 17,121 inmates were fully pardoned from both their remaining prison time and fines 114 had life sentences reduced to fixed-term sentences 23 had death sentences commuted to life imprisonment This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 19,673, making this year's Throne Day pardon one of the most significant to date. The royal initiative underscores the King's desire to promote reintegration, social harmony, and mercy—particularly during this national celebration.
