From September 6 to 10, the School of Law at the Free University of Tbilisi, in partnership with the Constitutional Court of Georgia (CCG) and with the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program, hosted the 2023 Summer School under the theme of "Freedom of Expression - National and International Standards and Practices."

The Summer School took place at the Constitutional Court of Georgia in Batumi, and saw the enthusiastic participation of 20 students from eight different universities. These institutions included the Free University of Tbilisi, Tbilisi State University, Ilia State University, Sulkhan-Saba University, Georgian National University SEU, University of Georgia, International Black Sea University, and the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).

The Summer School's opening ceremony featured addresses from notable figures, including Deputy Chairman of the CCG, Manana Kobakhidze; Dean of the School of Law at the Free University of Tbilisi, Revaz Khoperia; and Irina Khakhutaishvili, Regional Hub Attorney in Adjara for the USAID Rule of Law Program. Judge Kobakhidze emphasized the CCG's ongoing collaboration with multiple higher education institutions through summer schools and other educational initiatives. These efforts are aimed at enriching the professional expertise of young lawyers and law students specializing in constitutional and human rights law. She expressed confidence that the School's sessions would provide a platform for engaging discussions and offer participants invaluable insights into the practices of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, the European Court of Human Rights, and the U.S. Supreme Court on the highly pertinent subject matter of freedom of expression.

Dean Khoperia stressed the importance of acquiring robust theoretical knowledge through comparative legal analysis to enhance the quality of legal education. Additionally, he highlighted the need for students to gain an understanding of practical legal issues through discussions with actively involved lecturers and professors. The Summer School's objective was to further enrich the knowledge of outstanding students from various universities while nurturing their interest in the fundamental concept of freedom of expression, a cornerstone of any democratic society. Participating in the School equipped students with valuable knowledge and experiences, enabling them to comprehend the complexities surrounding freedom of expression, identify strategies to address existing challenges, and advance their careers.

Ms. Khakhutaishvili emphasized to the students: "By investing in education, the USAID Rule of Law Program is nurturing the future generation of legal professionals. Our contributions today pave the way for a brighter future where the principles of the rule of law and human rights will be more effectively safeguarded, ultimately leading to a stronger and more just society."

The training sessions were conducted by experts in human rights, including Associate Professor of the Free University of Tbilisi Giorgi Burjanadze; Invited Lecturer at the Free University of Tbilisi Giorgi Beraia; and Eduard Marikashvili, Chairman of the Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI) and an Invited Lecturer at the Free University of Tbilisi. These speakers delved into varied aspects of freedom of expression, including its implications for journalists and activists, the intersection of freedom of expression and freedom of religion, standards of restrictions on freedom of expression in the online space, international models of defamation regulation, the concept of SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and its implications for freedom of expression, as well as anti-SLAPP initiatives in Europe and the U.S.

Tamar Tkeshelashvili, a student at the Law School of Free University of Tbilisi, said “By participating in the Summer School, we as students are afforded the opportunity to acquire a wealth of knowledge from individuals possessing significant theoretical and practical experience. During the School, I acquired valuable insights from the speakers regarding various effective mechanisms, emerging perspectives, standards, practices, and challenges directly associated with the right to freedom of expression.”

Tornike Migineishvili, a student of the Law School of the University of Georgia, thinks the existence of similar schools and the analysis of international practices and standards for students is the best way for professional development and growth. “The knowledge, experience and practical work shared by specialists during several days of trainings will give me a chance to contribute more in the field of human rights protection in the future.” – he emphasized.

The final day of the Summer School was dedicated to a moot court exercise, allowing students to solidify their understanding of the topics covered in the preceding days. Students were presented with a case developed in collaboration with the trainers, and they were divided into six teams tasked with presenting the positions of both applicants and respondents during the mock trials. Three mock trial sessions were guided by the speakers of the Summer School and representatives from the Constitutional Court of Georgia.