GT Consulting partner Vasil Zhizhiashvili argues that recent amendments to Georgia’s “Law on Entrepreneurs,” which restrict political activity by businesses and impose penalties for violations, may violate constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and entrepreneurial freedom.
He says the law limits companies’ ability to publicly express values and effectively punishes business-related speech that is not directly tied to core commercial activity. Zhizhiashvili is representing fitness club “Reformer” founder Giorgi Putkaradze in a constitutional challenge against the disputed provisions.
The lawyer contends that constitutional protections for free expression can only be restricted under narrowly defined conditions, which he says are not met in this case. He also argues that in practice it is impossible to fully separate corporate and individual expression, as companies act through real people such as directors and managers.
The case has been submitted to the Constitutional Court, which has up to nine months to decide whether to admit it for review.
