Author: cmis_user

May 2025 – April 2026

The Center for Media, Information and Social Research has documented 306 incidents targeting journalists, media outlets, and civil society organizations working on media rights’ issues in Georgia. In a number of cases, multiple forms of violations occurred within a single incident (e.g., detention accompanied by physical violence).

Media Environment

The media environment in Georgia remains in a critical condition. Over the past year, independent journalists and media organizations have been subjected to a wide spectrum of violations. Discreditation is the most frequent documented type of incident (see chart below). This suggests that reputational attacks and delegitimization are central instruments of pressure against independent media. Legal and administrative pressure is also prominent. Legal persecution, fines, administrative imprisonment, restrictive legislation, SLAPP lawsuits, interrogations, and detentions together indicate a pattern of institutional pressure. Physical violence and injury remain serious concerns. Although they have been recorded less frequently than discreditation or legal pressure, they represent direct coercive harm against journalists and media workers, including in protest contexts. Despite the scale and persistence of these violations, impunity remains pervasive: no perpetrators—including publicly identified individuals – have been held accountable.

A particularly notable case concerns Mzia Amaglobeli, a Sakharov Prize laureate. On April 2, 2026, the Parole Commission denied her early release. She was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on August 6, 2025. Both domestic and international organizations assess the case as politically motivated and call for her immediate release.

The most recent index by Reporters Without Borders ranked Georgia 135th out of 180 countries and territories. Notably, Georgia has dropped 75 places in the past few years.

Recorded Violations between May 1, 2025- April 30, 2026:

• Politically Motivated Convictions and Imprisonment – 1 case

·       On August 6, 2025: Mzia Amaglobeli sentenced to 2 years in prison

• Legal and Administrative Pressure – 103 cases

·       Fining of journalists while covering rallies – 16 (Alleged “artificial roadblocking” during pro-European protests. The majority of fines have been appealed; a number of them have been waived).

·       Other financial fines – 13 (Including fines for social media posts or fines imposed on media outlets)

·       Legal persecution – 39 (Encompassing the initiation of investigations, application of restrictive legal frameworks, and formal or informal measures such as correspondence from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and verbal reprimands issued by the Communications Commission)

• Administrative imprisonment – 10 (largest majority of the cases occurred in connection to “standing on a sidewalk”)

·      Adoption of restrictive legislation-  8

·       SLAPP lawsuit- 7

·     Interrogation – 5 (within the broader context of systemic pressure on journalists, such measures function as indirect coercion and contribute to a chilling effect on media activity)

·       Detention – 5

• Verbal Abuse, Intimidation, and Discreditation: 108 cases

·. Discreditation – 69     

· Verbal abuse – 20

·     Intimidation – 18

• Interference in Journalistic Activities: 35 cases

·     Prohibition of filming – 9

·     Denial of entry to administrative buildings – 8

·     Denial of admission to public events –  8

·     Expulsion from courts – 7

·     Suspension of accreditation – 3

• Physical Violence and Injury: 26 cases

·     Physical violence against journalists – 16

·     Physical violence resulting in journalists’ injury – 10

• Labor Rights Violations: 13 cases (All relate to the Georgian Public Broadcaster)

·     Dismissal from work: 10

·     Imposition of disciplinary sanctions – 3

• Attacks on Property: 12 cases

·    Confiscation or seizure of equipment – 7   

·     Damage to equipment –  4

·     Damage to property (such as home, office or vehicle) – 1

According to publicly available information, there were 7 cases of unjustified denial of entry to the country of foreign journalists during the year, 4 of which occurred in the run-up to the October 2025 local government elections.

In 2025, the Center for Media, Information and Social Research (CMIS) documented 357 violations targeting journalists, media outlets, and civil society organizations working on media rights. In several instances, a single incident involved multiple forms of abuse (for example, detention accompanied by physical violence). A total of 323 media representatives and media organisations were affected by these violations.

Fines against journalists and media outlets were the most commonly used tool of pressure. Of the 48 fines issued, 35 were imposed on journalists, most of whom were covering protests; a small number of these fines were later repealed. Discrediting independent media and journalists, physical violence, use of laws to persecute media and verbal insults are the next most prevalent types of violations. 

Detentions and arrests of journalists reached unprecedented levels. In 2025, 20 cases of detention, arrest and imprisonment were recorded. At the time of detention some of them were working on the site, covering the protest.

On August 6, Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of the online publications Batumelebi.ge and Netgazeti.ge, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment. Both local and international organisations have described this conviction as politically motivated and are calling for Mzia Amaglobeli’s immediate release.

The primary perpetrator of these violations is law enforcement, followed by administrative bodies and courts.

Since January 1, 2025, 79 out of 357 different types of incidents documented, affected 72 media representatives during or in connection to protest rallies (for example, arbitrary fines imposed on journalists for “artificially blocking the road”). According to the publicly available information, 9 cases were documented over the year where foreign journalists were unjustifiably refused entry into Georgia