Interference with professional duties

Public Broadcaster Shuts Down the Program “Real Space”

On May 5, 2025, employees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s program “Real Space” announced that the show had been officially canceled by the broadcaster’s decision.

Information about the closure was provided to the journalists in writing on April 30 by the management of the Public Broadcaster. The letter stated:

“Considering that on April 11, 2025, the employment relationship with the show’s host and face, Nino Zautashvili, was terminated, the continuation of the program is no longer planned.”

The statement was made by the “Real Space” team during a protest held in front of the Public Broadcaster’s building.

The Media Advocacy Coalition harshly criticized the Public Broadcaster’s decision:

“The Media Advocacy Coalition strongly condemns the leadership of the Public Broadcaster for shutting down the program ‘Real Space’, which has a 12-year history, for unlawfully dismissing its host Nino Zautashvili, intimidating journalists, and creating an inappropriate work environment. This decision constitutes a deliberate act of repression against journalists who openly criticized the broadcaster’s biased editorial policy, exposed political influence within the broadcaster, and revealed propaganda in favor of the ‘Georgian Dream’ party,” — the Coalition’s statement reads.The broadcaster’s management targeted Nino Zautashvili and her team due to their critical stance. According to them, on March 21, 2025, the Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees even threatened Zautashvili with the Prosecutor’s Office.

Media Not Allowed into Public Session at Samtskhe-Javakheti State Administration

On May 8, 2025, the media was not allowed into a public session at the Samtskhe-Javakheti State Administration, where the new governor was being introduced. This information was reported by TOK2Region.

Former governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Besik Amiranashvili, was replaced by Zaal Gelashvili on May 8.

Closing public hearings to independent media is a general trend, and the ruling party “Georgian Dream” has employed this tactic multiple times in the past.

At the “Georgian Dream” party congress, online media was not allowed

On May 7, 2025, online media was restricted from covering the “Georgian Dream” congress. The official reason given was the limited number of available seats.

The party’s press office urged media representatives to follow the event via livestream.

At the congress, Irakli Kobakhidze was elected as the new chairman of the “Georgian Dream” party.

Irina Makaridze was fined for 5,000 lari for “artificially blocking the road”

On April 25, 2025, journalist Irina Makaridze was notified that she had been fined 5,000 lari for “artificially blocking the road” on April 6. According to the journalist, she was on Rustaveli Avenue covering the protest for “Qronika+.” After appealing, Makaridze’s fine was canceled.

Georgian Dream increased the amount of fines in the context of the pro-European protests that began after November 28. According to amendments made to Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offence, the fine for illegally blocking a roadway has been increased tenfold from 500 GEL to 5,000 GEL.

“Tabula” Journalist Luka Luka Katsitadze, Fined 5,000 GEL

On April 12, 2025, Luka Katsitadze, a journalist for “Tabula,” was fined 5,000 lari for “artificially blocking the road.” According to “Tabula,” Katsitadze was performing his professional duties on Rustaveli Avenue.

“Mauqceblis” Journalist Fined for “Artificially Blocking the Road”

On April 8, 2025, “Mauqceblis” journalist Tozu Gulmamedova was notified of a fine. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accuses her of “artificially blocking the road” on February 16 of the same year.

According to the online media outlet “Mauqceblis,” Tozu Gulmamedova was performing her professional duties at the protest on that day.

OC Media founder and photographer Mariam Nikuradze was fined four times for “artificially blocking the road” for a total of 20,000 lari

The Ministry of Internal Affairs fined OC Media founder and photographer Mariam Nikuradze four times on the grounds of “artificially blocking the road” — on March 11, March 15, and April 2 and 3. In total, the journalist has been fined 20,000 lari.

Mariam Nikuradze has appealed all of the fines. In one of the appeals, which concerned the road blockade on March 11, the Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to annul the fine. The remaining appeals are still under review.

According to the journalist, in all of the above cases she was carrying out her professional duties, was wearing press identification, and had a camera with her.

At a peaceful protest near Tbilisi Mall 11 journalists were unlawfully prevented from doing their jobs

On February 2, at a peaceful protest near Tbilisi Mall 11 journalists were unlawfully prevented from doing their jobs.

TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was injured while filming the arrest of a protester by the police. As a result, he had to be hospitalized. Medical examinations confirmed that he suffered a concussion due to the injuries sustained at the protest.
A video published by media outlet “April” shows a police officer pushing their journalist, Nata Uridia, and obstructing her work. In the footage, Nata Uridia can be heard identifying herself as a journalist while addressing a masked police officer.
During the arrest of protesters, police also interfered with another “April” journalist, Vakho Kareli, demanding that both him and Nata Uridia leave the area. In the same incident, an officer was seen pushing Uridia.
Radio Free Liberty’s journalist Gela Bochkashvili was threatened by a police officer. A video published by the media captures a masked officer telling him, “Move that camera away, or I’ll break your head.”
TV Mtavari Arkhi’s journalist Dea Mamiseishvili released a video showing a police officer verbally and physically assaulting her.
Radio Marneuli journalist Vladimir Chkhitunidze was filming the arrest of an opposition politician when he was stopped by Special Tasks Department (STD) officers, who forcibly moved him onto the sidewalk.
TV Pirveli’s camera crew was verbally and physically assaulted by police officers. According to the channel, their broadcasting equipment was also damaged.
TV Pirveli also reported that their journalist, Khatia Samkharadze, was attacked by Mirza Kezevadze, the deputy head of the Special Tasks Department. According to media reports, Kezevadze seized and damaged the journalist’s phone.
Members of the Special Tasks Department also attempted to take a microphone from Formula TV journalist Giorgi Kvijinadze, obstructing his work, when he was on air.
A masked police officer interfered with Guria News’ journalists while they were covering the protest. A video shows the officer pushing away the camera.
The police obstructed MediaChecker journalist Ninia Kakabadze from doing her job. A police officer also pushed her.

Media Advocacy Coalition and the Charter of Journalistic Ethics have responded to the injuries sustained by media representatives while covering the peaceful protest near “Tbilisi Mall.” The organizations are calling on international bodies to “properly assess the dangerous actions and systemic violence by law enforcement officers who have acted beyond the framework of the Constitution and the law.“

The Prime Minister threatened to expel a journalist from the briefing for asking critical questions

On December 8, 2024, during a press conference at the Government Administration, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze used offensive language toward Telara Gelantia, a journalist and editor from “BMG,” for asking critical questions. He also threatened to expel her from the press conference.

Irakli Kobakhidze addressed Telara Gelantia with the following words: “I’ll expel you right now. Stop babbling, seriously. Don’t babble, or I’ll expel you if you keep it up.”

During the coverage of the December 6-7 protest, Journnalists were detained, injured, or faced obstruction in their professional work

On December 7, in Tbilisi, on Besiki Street, masked individuals violently attacked the TV Pirveli crew, journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli. The incident occurred while the crew was broadcasting live. They were reporting on how masked individuals were ambushing and attacking citizens. In the video footage from the scene, an unknown masked individual is seen sneaking up behind Maka Chikhladze, grabbing her, and throwing her to the ground. Cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli was kicked in the head. The crew required medical assistance after the attack. “They took the microphone, took the camera, hit both of us, and shouted, ‘What are you reporting, you bastards?’ The police were standing right here, at this spot, when it happened. They failed to react and just walked away. We were attacked and beaten. They’re marauders in black masks,” said Maka Chikhladze.

On December 7, a journalist from Palitranews who was filming the dispersal of the protest with a mobile phone, was obstructed by riot police. In a video footage shared by Mtavari Arkhi, the journalist states that they were broadcasting live when the officer seized their phone and threw it away. At the time, the journalist was wearing an identification badge clearly indicating their media affiliation.

In the early hours of December 7 Mtavari Arkhi journalist and host Beka Korshia was detained during a protest. According to the TV channel, Korshia was physically assaulted during the arrest. “Beka Korshia was detained on Elbakidze, where the riot police unit were simply moving. His arrest was entirely unlawful. Afterwards, he was kept out of contact for four hours, and we were unable to reach him or gather any information. We were also denied the opportunity to exercise his right to legal defense,” Korshia’s lawyer stated.

At the protest, riot police verbally harassed Mtavari Arkhi journalist Dea Mamiseishvili.

On the morning of December 7, the JRC filming crew was covering the encirclement of peaceful protestors and the violent arrest of demonstrators by police forces when members of the riot police obstructed their work and attempted to detain them. JRC has released video footage of the incident.

On December 7, Caucasian Knot correspondent Beslan Kmuzov was detained by riot police while reporting. Kmuzov said he was detained after taking a photo of riot police who were aligned on Shota Rustaveli avenue. Riot police confiscated Kmuzov’s phone. The court imposed a fine of 2,000 GEL on the journalist and he was released on December 9.

On the morning of December 7, the JRC filming crew was covering the encirclement of peaceful protestors and the violent arrest of demonstrators by police forces when members of the special forces obstructed their work and attempted to detain them. JRC has released video footage of the incident.