**European Court to Consider Complaint Against “Russian Law”**
The European Court of Human Rights has started looking at a complaint made by non-governmental and media organizations about the “Russian Law”. The court has accepted the case for consideration in relation to all articles.
In October 2024, 16 media organizations, 120 non-governmental organizations, and 4 individuals filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. They argued that the “Russian Law” violates several human rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights, including freedom of association, expression, and privacy.
The court may give this case special importance, which means it concerns very important issues about protecting human rights.
**Background to the Complaint**
After the complaint was filed, the government continued to persecute civil society groups. The translation of a US law called FARA is also part of this ongoing policy. This US law does not stop independent NGOs or free media from working, but the Georgian government wants to use it to disguise its own “Russian Law”. In the past, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that similar laws in Russia are used to suppress independent voices and are typical of authoritarian regimes.
**Response from the Government**
The government’s propaganda claimed that the case had not been sent. When an extract from the postal message was published, they said the court’s signature was not visible on it. After the case was registered, they continued to mislead the public by manipulating procedural issues. High-ranking officials also stigmatized civil society and gave it insulting labels.
**Conclusion**
The “Russian Law” not only restricts civil society and media but also isolates citizens from each other and suppresses critical voices. The struggle against this law and censorship will end with the victory of the Georgian people, according to a statement from the non-governmental and media organizations.