Georgia

The Georgian Parliament should reject the ‘foreign agents’ bill. The authorities should also investigate allegations of police brutality against journalists and hold those responsible accountable – CPJ

“Georgian authorities’ revival of a bill that would smear media outlets as foreign-controlled is deeply concerning and utterly incompatible with their claim of aligning with European democratic standards” – CPJ

“German and Georgian authorities should treat these allegations with the utmost seriousness and do all they can to safeguard the lives of journalists living in exile” – CPJ

A well-known critic of Georgia’s ruling party, Gvaramia is currently serving a 3.5 year sentence for alleged abuse of office. His prosecution and conviction were widely seen as politically motivated.

Under the new draft law, any organisation receiving over 20% of its income from a “foreign power” will have to register on a “Foreign Influence Agents Registry” or face fines of up to € 8,900.

On 5 July 2021, hundreds of anti-LGBTQI+ protesters attacked more than 50 journalists covering a pride march in Tbilisi. Twenty-five of those attackers were handed prison sentences on 4 April 2022; another was fined.

“Instead of trying to discredit the late cameraman, we demand that the Interior Ministry launch an in-depth, impartial and transparent investigation of the circumstances of his death and of the attacks suffered by journalists whom the police failed to protect.”

Eight media workers were hospitalised in Tblisi after far-right demonstrators attacked journalists and TV crews. Sticks and bottles were thrown and equipment belonging to TV stations was stolen or damaged.

A Russian hitman was allegedly sent by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to target TV host Giorgi Gabunia. Gabunia hired bodyguards last year after he was threatened by Kadyrov. Death squads from the Russian Caucasus have repeatedly targeted critics in Europe.

After an Azerbaijani journalist was spirited away from Georgia, rights groups say the country must back up its previous statements on enforced disappearances.

An Azeri journalist who was was investigating corruption within Azerbaijan’s first family will face prosecution in his native country after being kidnapped from Georgia’s capital.

On 25 December 2015, Irakli Kakabadze was arrested and injured during a peaceful demonstration protesting the appointment of Judge Levan Murusidze to the Appeals Court of Georgia’s High Council of Justice in Georgia.

In a recent joint statement, over a dozen news outlets and 20 Georgian media freedom and human rights groups said the bill “carries a risk of unreasonably restricting freedom of expression and stifling criticism.”

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed its grave concern that broadcasting licenses and advertising contracts in Georgia are being unfairly awarded to organisations with close connections to government officials and members of political parties.