The Georgian Parliament has passed amendments to the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression and the Civil Procedure Code with 83 votes in favor, using an accelerated procedure.

According to the Parliament’s press office, the changes clarify the definition of defamation as a substantially false fact that harms a person’s reputation, whether the person is public or private. The reconciliation period in court for defamation cases is shortened from one month to up to 10 days.

A major change shifts the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant, who must now prove that their statement was not substantially false. This does not apply to cases filed before the law takes effect.

Under the amended Civil Procedure Code, anyone who believes they are a victim of defamation can file a lawsuit within 100 days of becoming aware of the statement. Plaintiffs can seek compensation for property or moral damages through the courts.