The Public Defender of Georgia has raised concerns about the difficulty of obtaining public information in the country, especially for journalists and human rights activists. In a statement released on International Freedom of Information Day (September 28), the Ombudsman‘s office emphasized the need for legal reforms and effective enforcement mechanisms to ensure the right to access public information.
According to the Ombudsman, the current laws do not provide enough guarantees for timely and complete access to public information. The lengthy court procedures for appealing information requests hinder the process, particularly for journalists and human rights activists who often need information quickly for their work. This delay diminishes the societal value of the information and hinders their ability to inform the public and hold institutions accountable.
The Public Defender’s Office has been urging the Georgian government to make legislative changes for years to strengthen the right to access public information and establish an independent supervisory body to oversee its enforcement, in line with international standards.
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