Media representatives arrested under restrictive legislation

Since October 19, 2025, after the “Georgian Dream” parliament passed yet another repressive amendment under an expedited procedure, 14 media representatives were detained in Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue for participating in — and in some cases covering — the ongoing protest.

1. On October 19, TV presenter and journalist Vakho Sanaia of the TV company “Formula” was detained and sentenced to 6 days in prison;
2. On October 20, TV journalist Keta Tsitskishvili of the TV company “Formula” was detained and sentenced to 5 days in prison;
3. On October 21, TV journalist Tsira Zhvania was detained and sentenced to 10 days in prison;
4. On October 21, former journalist of the Georgiam Public Broadcaster Vasil-Ivanov Chikovani was arrested. He was sentenced to 7 days in detention;
5. On October 22, Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov was arrested and sentenced to 14 days in prison;
6. On October 22, journalist Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze, a member of the board of the Public Broadcaster, was arrested and sentenced to 5 days in prison;
7. On October 24, journalist Basti Mgaloblishvili of the online media outlet Public was arrested and released within hours. Mgaloblishvili was on duty;
8. On October 24, the founder and director of “Formula” Giorgi Liponava was arrested.
9. On October 24, writer and publisher, editor-in-chief of “Intelekti” Zviad Kvaratskhelia was arrested.
10. On October 25, Nika Pataraia, a cameraman for the TV company “Formula”, was arrested and sentenced to 4 days in prison;
11. On 3 November, was arrested MediaChecker journalist Ninia Kakabadze. Her court hearing is scheduled for 12 November. At the time of her detention, Ninia Kakabadze was performing her professional duties;
12. On 5 November, Formula journalist Liza Tsitsishvili was detained. She was released approximately ten minutes later, and an apology was issued to her. Liza Tsitsishvili was performing her professional duties at the time;
13. On November 12, Afghan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani journalist living in Georgia, was given administrative detention for the second time on the pretext of blocking the road
14. On November 22, during a protest rally in Tbilisi, Giorgi Mamniashvili, a journalist from TV Pirveli, was arrested near Ingorokva Street. At the moment of his arrest, he was performing his professional duties. He was fined 3,000 GEL

On October 16, the “Georgian Dream” party, in an expedited manner, adopted another legislative amendment in two days, which further tightens sanctions against citizens participating in protests and significantly restricts freedom of assembly and expression.

According to the amendments, administrative imprisonment of up to 15 days, without a fine, is provided for wearing a mask at a rally, possessing tear gas, and blocking a road. In addition, judges will no longer have the right to use fines as an administrative penalty in cases of administrative offenses.

The detention of journalists by the “Georgian Dream” party is a direct attack on the media and freedom of expression. “In such conditions, the activities of independent media are facing serious threats, which significantly limits the right to information of a democratic society,” the Media Advocacy Coalition said in a statement.