§ Article 17Rights to freedom of opinion, information, mass media and the internet

Rights to freedom of opinion, information, mass media and the internet

1. Freedom of opinion and the expression of opinion shall be protected. No one shall be persecuted because of his/her opinion or
for expressing his/her opinion.

2. Every person has the right to receive and impart information freely.

3. Mass media shall be free. Censorship shall be inadmissible. Neither the State nor individuals shall have the right to monopolise
mass media or the means of dissemination of information.

4. Everyone has the right to access and freely use the internet.

5. The restriction of these rights may be allowed only in accordance with law, insofar as is necessary in a democratic society for
ensuring national security, public safety or territorial integrity, for the protection of the rights of others, for the prevention of the
disclosure of information recognised as confidential, or for ensuring the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

6. The independence of the public broadcaster from state agencies and its freedom from political and substantial commercial
influence shall be ensured by law.

7. The institutional and financial independence of the national regulatory body – established to protect media pluralism and the
exercise of freedom of expression in mass media, prevent the monopolisation of mass media or means of dissemination of
information, and protect the rights of consumers and entrepreneurs in the field of broadcasting and electronic communications –
shall be guaranteed by law.

Constitutional Law of Georgia No 1324 of 13 October 2017 – website, 19.10.2017

Constitutional Law of Georgia No 2071 of 23 March 2018 – website, 2.4.2018
http://www.matsne.gov.ge 010.010.000.01.001.000.116
Article 18 – Rights to fair administrative proceedings, access to public information, informational self-determination, and
compensation for damage inflicted by public authority

1. Everyone has the right to a fair hearing of his/her case by an administrative body within a reasonable time.

2. Everyone has the right to be familiarised with information about him/her, or other information, or an official document that
exists in public institutions in accordance with the procedures established by law, unless this information or document contains
commercial or professional secrets, or is acknowledged as a state secret by law or in accordance with the procedures established by
law as necessary in a democratic society to ensure national security or public safety or to protect the interests of legal proceedings.

3. The information contained in official records pertaining to an individual’s health, finances or other personal matters shall not be
made available to anyone without the consent of the individual, except as provided for by law and as is necessary to ensure
national security or public safety, or to protect public interests and health or the rights of others.

4. Everyone shall be entitled to full compensation, through a court, for damage unlawfully inflicted by the bodies of the State, the
autonomous republics and local self-governments, or their employees, from state funds, the funds of the autonomous republics or
the funds of local self-governments, respectively.

Constitutional Law of Georgia No 1324 of 13 October 2017 – website, 19.10.2017

Constitutional Law of Georgia No 2071 of 23 March 2018 – website, 2.4.2018