On Wednesday, October 22, Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov was detained at a protest for blocking the road.

Judge Zviad Tsekvava sentenced the journalist to 14 days of administrative imprisonment.

In recent days, journalists from the TV company “Formula” — Vakho Sanaia, Keta Tsitskishvili, and Tsira Zhvania — were detained on the grounds of blocking the road.

The Parliament of “Georgian Dream” passed amendments to the law that further restrict freedom of assembly and expression. Based on the amendment, more than 80 people have been detained in the past few days.

Both local and international organizations have reacted to the detention of journalists.

“The detention of journalists by ‘Georgian Dream’ is a direct attack on media and freedom of expression. Under such conditions, the work of independent media is under serious threat, which significantly limits the democratic society’s right to be informed,” states the Media Advocacy Coalition’s statement.