Interference with professional duties

Six journalists injured near Tbilisi mayoral candidate, Kakha Kaladze’s, campaign headquarters

On September 8, 2025, while covering a rally outside the election headquarters of Georgian Dream’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate, Kakha Kaladze, party supporters and law enforcement officers assaulted journalists, verbally abused them, and confiscated mobile phones. One journalist required medical treatment.

According to the online outlet Publika two reporters, Aleksandre Keshelashvili and Keto Mikadze, were physically assaulted by Georgian Dream supporters while on assignment, and their mobile phones were seized. With the help of a Netgazeti journalist, they recovered only one device Keshelashvili’s phone [timecode: 1:14–1:20]. The outlet reports that it has video evidence showing who took the other phone and has called on that individual to return it, and on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to respond to the theft of editorial equipment and interference in journalistic work.

According to online Netgazeti, a police officer swore at its reporter Ketevan Khutsishvili, physically grabbed and dragged her, and interfered with her work while she was broadcasting live and filming the confrontation outside the headquarters, including the attack on the colleague – Aleksandre Keshelashvili. “They used rude and vulgar gestures to swear. Then a policeman came up to me, saying, ‘Don’t provoke me,’ grabbed me by the arms and dragged me. Then a second and a third came, and one of the policemen cursed me. After that, a man in a blue shirt came and also cursed me. Finally, they dragged me and threw me among the policemen, and one of them even grabbed my hand,” Khutsishvili says. [Video material, timecode: 0:30–2:32]

A Georgian Dream supporter poured a bottle of water over Mariam Nikuradze, OC Media’s founder and photojournalist, as she filmed police clearing protesters. “At that moment, one of the Georgian Dream supporters approached me and poured a whole bottle of water on my head in the presence of the police. The police didn’t say anything to him, I pushed him aside,” Nikuradze told MediaChecker.

An investigative journalist with Studio Monitor, Keti Tutberidze was also poured a bottle of water while she was performing her professional duties.

Hungarian journalist László Róbert Mézes suffered serious physical injuries after being assaulted by Georgian Dream supporters, who also attempted to seize his phone. He required medical attention.

The Media Advocacy Coalition condemned the incidents, stating that “attacks on independent media and impunity for perpetrators are part of Georgian Dream’s consistent policy,” and expressed solidarity with journalists “forced to perform their professional duties under a violent regime.”

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics “strongly condemns” the violence against journalists “against the backdrop of the criminal inaction and indifference of the police,” calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs for an immediate response and on the Prosecutor’s Office to conduct an effective investigation.

Members of “Georgian Dream” and the police verbally and physically harassed journalists from “Publika”

On September 3, 2025, Beka Odisharia, a member of “Georgian Dream,” former MP, and candidate for Tbilisi City Council, verbally insulted “Publika” journalist Mindia Gabazde. Other members and supporters of “Georgian Dream” verbally and physically harassed and spat on the publication’s editor, Lika Zakashvili. The police, instead of protecting Zakashvili, interfered with her work by forcing her to stop filming through physical restraint.

The incidents occurred during the opening of the election campaign headquarters of “Georgian Dream” Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze. The event took place against the backdrop of a protest, and journalists were attempting to cover the events.

Video footage recorded by “Publika” shows Beka Odisharia speaking insultingly to Mindia Gabazde after the journalist asked him a question. In the same episode, Odisharia also verbally abuses protest participants and other journalists present.

Lika Zakashvili became a target of “Georgian Dream” supporters when she tried to film their insulting actions toward activists. One person struck her and tried to take her mobile phone, then another approached from behind and spat on her. The footage shows that law enforcement did not intervene. On the contrary, in a subsequent clip, a police officer physically tried to stop Zakashvili from filming.

According to the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, “Impunity for crimes against journalists encourages perpetrators and drives them to commit more offenses.” The Charter calls on “Georgian Dream” to put an end to such practices, take responsibility, and ensure a safe working environment for journalists.

The Media Advocacy Coalition emphasized that this is not the first instance of violence against journalists by “Georgian Dream” supporters. “Under Bidzina Ivanishvili’s governance, we see systemic violence against independent media. Repressive legislation has been enacted against independent media. All of these incidents are part of a coordinated strategy aimed at suppressing independent media and critical voices in the country,” the coalition said.

UPDATE: Based on a complaint filed with the prosecutor’s office, on September 11, 2025, “Publika” editor-in-chief Lika Zakashvili was questioned. The prosecutor’s office opened a case based on Zakashvili’s statement.

“TV Pirveli” cameraman Giorgi Mosiashvili fined 10,000 GEL for “artificially blocking the road”

Giorgi Mosiashvili, a photojournalist for the tv ”Pirveli” was fined twice by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, totaling 10,000 lari. The police accuse him of blocking Rustaveli Avenue on February 21 and March 11. In a post on social media, Mosiashvili noted that he was performing his professional duties at the time the fines were issued.

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.

“Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics” will not be able to monitor election-related coverage this year

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics announced that, for the first time since 2012, it will not be able to monitor how media outlets cover election-related issues during the election period. In its statement, the Charter cited repressive legislation adopted by Georgian Dream as the reason.

Amid pro-European protest rallies, Georgian Dream passed several laws which, according to assessments by local and international organizations, significantly restrict independent media organizations.

The Georgian Parliament has been placed on a yellow security alert and the work of media has been restricted again

On June 27, 2025, the Georgian Parliament held a hearing on the annual report of the Prime Minister of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, and in connection with this, the administrative body has been placed on a yellow security alert.

“In accordance with the Order of the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia dated September 4, 2023 N1/259/23 “On Approval of the Rules for Security Protection in the Palace of the Parliament of Georgia”, on June 27 of this year, the yellow security level will be in effect in the Palace of the Parliament – visitors are restricted from entering the Palace of the Parliament” – the statement released by the Parliament reads.

The announcement of the yellow security level restricts and imposes an artificial barrier to the work of the media, especially online media, and this is not the first time that such a restriction has been imposed in the Parliament of Georgia or other administrative bodies.

A police officer in Gori obstructed journalist Giorgi Akhalkatsi in the course of his journalistic work

On July 29, 2025, Gori police officer Ioseb Gagnidze aggressively confronted journalist Giorgi Akhalkatsi, who was attempting to film ongoing investigative actions in Gori, and obstructed his work.

“Journalists, meet Gori police officer Ioseb Gagnidze, who told us: ‘If you don’t have your badge hanging around your neck, you are not journalists to me. I will interfere with your filming, call you liars, and if necessary, I won’t hesitate to use force,’” the journalist wrote on social media.

According to Giorgi Akhalkatsi, the officer became aggressive after noticing that the investigative actions were being conducted with procedural violations: the area was not cordoned off with protective tape, no lawyer was called, searches were conducted without the presence of outsiders, anyone could move freely in the area, and so on.

After the court banned filming, for the first time, the right to film was granted to pro-government media

Television channels controlled by the Georgian Dream party, “Imedi” and the Public Broadcaster, were granted the right to film the court proceedings of businessman Giorgi Bachishvili, considered Bidzina Ivanishvili’s “personal prisoner.” This is the first case since amendments to the law banned the media from filming court hearings unless permission was granted by the High Council of Justice. Journalists from “Imedi” and the Public Broadcaster stated that they applied to the High Council of Justice on July 28 and received permission the following day.

On June 26, 2025, the Georgian Dream-controlled Parliament adopted amendments to the “Law on Common Courts,” which prohibited photo and video recording, audio recording, and broadcasting in court. Permission to film must be granted by the High Council of Justice. Since the law came into effect, media outlets with a critical editorial policy have submitted multiple requests to the High Council of Justice, but to date, none have received a response.

Moreover, organizations working on media issues have repeatedly called on the High Council of Justice to promptly develop procedures for granting permission to film court hearings, which would allow the media to receive timely responses to applications before the start of sessions, without unnecessary bureaucracy. However, so far, no feedback has been received from the High Council of Justice.

The head of the Tbilisi City Court’s bailiffs threatened the editor of ‘Publika’ with accountability before the law

On July 22, 2025, the head of the Tbilisi City Court’s bailiff service, Davit Matiashvili, threatened Zurab Vardiashvili, editor of the publication Publika, with accountability before the law over video recording. Vardiashvili was attempting to document how the bailiff service forcibly removed a member of an opposition party from the court building.

The incident occurred during the trial of Giorgi Akhobadze, a prisoner of conscience. According to Vardiashvili, Matiashvili forcefully removed Nodar Chachanidze, a member of the opposition party “Akhalis”, who had come to attend the trial. As soon as they left the building, the journalist began filming: “I started recording at the stairs. When he saw this, he pushed me and dragged me inside. He took my ID, saying it was confiscated, and threatened me with legal accountability.” Vardiashvili was held in a room inside the court building for several minutes before his ID was returned and he was released.

According to amendments to the Law on Common Courts, effective June 30, photo and video recording, as well as audio recording, are prohibited in courtrooms, corridors, and courtyards. Following the implementation of the new rule, media outlets submitted applications to the Justice Council for permission to record, but none have received a response so far.

Before the adoption of this repressive legislation, representatives of independent media were unlawfully obstructed while performing their professional duties in court buildings. After the changes, the bailiff service has been using force disproportionately and without justification, including against media representatives, to enforce the repressive legislation.

Judge Moved Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Court Proceedings to Smaller Courtroom

On July 14, 2025, Judge Nino Sakhelashvili moved the court proceedings of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, who is in illegal imprisonment, to a smaller courtroom. According to information from online media “Batumelebi,” the judge made the decision after, according to her, shouts could be heard from the street in the courtroom – “Freedom for Mzia! Freedom for political prisoners!” According to the online media’s information, a large part of those wishing to attend the court session could not enter the proceedings, among them were members of Mzia Amaghlobeli’s family, colleagues, and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

The judge also did not satisfy the defense’s request that journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli be allowed to testify from the witness stand. In the end, the journalist testified from a glass-enclosed booth.

For more than 6 months, journalist and media manager Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti,” has been in illegal imprisonment. On July 9, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Georgia, demanding Mzia Amaghlobeli’s release. Her release is also demanded by local and international organizations.

High-Ranking Police Official Locked “TV Pirveli” Journalist in Office and Seized Equipment

On July 12, 2025, TV company “TV Pirveli” aired a journalistic investigation that concerned police officers whom “Georgian Dream” allegedly uses against prisoners of conscience and the benefits these police officers receive in return. The story covered police officer Bidzina Zhamerashvili, whose father, according to the investigation, had been arrested on theft charges.

To verify the facts, the journalist went to the Asureti division of the Tetritskaro district administration and asked for a comment from the division head, Koba Sutiashvili. The story shows that the division head expelled the camera operator from the office and locked journalist Tamta Dolenjashvili in the office, then tried to seize her mobile phone and microphone. According to Tamta Dolenjashvili’s statement: “He expelled my operator, Papuna Khachidze, from the office, locked me inside, took away my mobile phone and was trying to seize the microphone as well. Later he also expelled Papuna from the building.”