Within the scope of the criminal case launched against the “Formula” television company, another journalist from the channel and author of the report, Natuka Lomadze, was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia. The journalist’s questioning lasted for three hours.
“The investigator was interested in how I, as a journalist, worked on this report. Who were the people with whom I attempted to verify the information our source was telling us? Of course, there were many such people,” the journalist told Media Checker.
On June 16, 2026, the Investigative Division of the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal case against Formula TV under Article 373, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to false denunciation (false accusation). The investigation was initiated based on a statement filed by Goga Khaindrava, a film director and supporter of the “Georgian Dream” party. He accuses “Formula” of falsely implicating him in a potential crime. The case concerns reports broadcast on the show Shabatis Formula (Saturday’s Formula) on December 20, 2025, and January 17, 2026. According to the source in these reports, Goga Khaindrava was bringing foreign citizens into Georgia in exchange for money. Reportedly, the Prosecutor’s Office is disputing the false denunciation against Formula’s source.
Within the scope of the same case, the author and host of the program, Davit Kashiashvili, was also questioned at the Prosecutor’s Office.
Due to the same reports, Goga Khaindrava also has an ongoing civil dispute against “Formula.” He is suing the television company for defamation and is demanding 10,000 GEL in compensation for moral damages.
On July 1, 2026, a coordinated cyberattack was launched against the online platforms of the investigative journalistic agency “Studio Monitor.”
According to the outlet, the media organization became a target after publishing an investigative report titled “Trump Tower” in Tbilisi – A Fraudulent Online Casino Network and Russian Connections. The publication reported that a group of users began mass-reporting (“dereporting”) all materials on YouTube and Facebook/Instagram that detailed the potential links between Georgian construction companies and an unlicensed online casino network. “Studio Monitor” has recently published two investigative reports on this topic.
“As a result of this coordinated cyberattack, META notified us that several of ‘Monitor’s’ materials had been removed from their platforms, and one video was taken down from YouTube—specifically those concerning the ties between Georgian companies and the unlicensed online casino network. Furthermore, we received an email from an address linked to various fraudulent networks, demanding the removal of our investigative report from the ‘Monitor’ website,” the outlet’s statement reads.
“Monitor” has appealed the decisions made by YouTube and Meta and is currently working to identify who is behind this coordinated attack.
Keti Tutberidze, a journalist for Formula TV’s investigative program “Saturday Formula”, was verbally abused by an unidentified individual.
The incident occurred in the city of Gori, where the journalist was preparing an investigative report on the beating of a citizen by police officers. The broadcast footage reveals that, near the residence of one of the police officers accused of the assault, an unknown individual in a vehicle with tinted windows confronted the journalist. The person defended the police officer while swearing at and verbally assaulting the journalist.
On June 1, during a televised debate on “Rustavi 2,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze referred to the investigative Studio “Monitor” as a media outlet that “spreads lies.” Furthermore, he labeled one of the studio’s journalists as “ignorant” and “uneducated.”
The theme of the “Rustavi 2” debate centered on the challenges facing the capital. The Mayor’s visible irritation was triggered by a question from opposition politician Nika Oboladze. The inquiry concerned alleged corrupt deals involving the Mayor’s deputies, specifically Vice Mayor Irakli Khmaladze.Rather than directly addressing the issue, the Mayor of Tbilisi attempted to evade the question with the following response [Timecode: 1:05-1:06]: “He relied on Studio ‘Monitor,’ an outlet that has been caught in lies and fabrications. Including regarding me, by the way, on several occasions. Just recently, a few days ago, I caught a journalist in a blatant lie and exposed them… This is a clear example of how fabrications are manufactured in Georgia. Some ignorant, uneducated so-called journalist makes accusations, then an element posing as a politician repeats them, and you are left having to come out and defend yourself.”რუსთავი 2
Studio “Monitor” has published numerous investigative reports concerning corruptdeals linked to the Mayor of Tbilisi, including those involving Irakli Khmaladze. One of their most recent films, released on May 8, focused on the construction businesses of Kakha Kaladze’s friend, Giorgi Barvenashvili.
Note: It is worth noting that Kakha Kaladze has a history of using offensive and derogatory language toward journalists. The CMIS has documented numerous instances of such behavior.
On the evening of June 6, photographer Levan Zazadze, who was covering the “Saturday March,” was attacked by an unidentified individual near the Philharmonic.
The assailant first subjected him to verbal abuse before physically striking him, causing injuries to his face. The attacker was carrying a “Glovo” delivery bag and traveling on a scooter. He was eventually escorted from the scene by the police; however, eyewitnesses reported that the law enforcement’s response was delayed.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has launched an investigation into the incident under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to violence. Despite this, it remains unknown whether the attacker has been formally arrested. Shortly after the incident, photos circulated in the media showing the assailant standing with police officers without handcuffs.The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has called on the MIA to punish these attacker in accordance with the law and to make a concerted effort to ensure a safe working environment for media professionals.
“The police’s indifferent attitude toward such crimes encourages violence aggressive individuals perceive journalists as easy targets,” the Charter noted in its statement.
Journalists Giorgi Akhalkatsi (Kartlis Ambebi) and Lado Bichashvili (TV Company Formula), who filmed an incident of police violence against a citizen in Gori, Shida Kartli, were summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning. The journalists spent several hours at the investigative agency.
On May 27, in the Kombinati settlement of Gori, up to ten police officers brutally assaulted two local citizens during an arrest. The journalists filmed the footage of the beating from the window of a residential building, having witnessed the incident purely by chance. The circulation of the video material on public networks triggered a significant public outcry, forcing the law enforcement agency to launch an investigation into the incident.
The Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation under the article of alleged abuse of official power involving violence by police officers. On May 28, it was announced that six law enforcement officers had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili responded to reports concerning the one-year suspension of TV company “Imedi’s” accreditation at the European Parliament, stating that the ruling team will discuss whether to apply similar rules in Georgia.
Papuashvili’s statement points to a potential further tightening of rules for media access to the Parliament. This comes against the backdrop of recent and repeated restrictions on journalist accreditation in the Georgian Parliament, including those introduced in January 2026.
“We saw it in the European Parliament, we’ve seen other countries too; the most lenient rules are the ones introduced here. Now you see what the European Parliament’s rule actually entails. We will definitely consider whether or not to apply those same rules here,” Papuashvili stated.
He assessed the European Parliament’s decision as a step taken “against free media” and remarked that “Brussels is replacing the Soviet Union step by step.”
TV company “Imedi,” which was recently sanctioned by the UK for spreading Russian disinformation, claims that the European Parliament has banned its operations for a year. Meanwhile, Moldova denied accreditation to three pro-government channels—”Imedi,” “Rustavi 2,” and “POSTV”—to cover the 135th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
According to Radio Liberty, Marina Klimchuk, an 8-month pregnant journalist and German citizen, was denied entry to Georgia. On May 11, she was stopped at Tbilisi International Airport and informed that she had an outstanding fine of 5,000 GEL for an administrative offense. Klimchuk spent almost 24 hours in the airport’s temporary holding room. According to her, the room lacked both a blanket and a pillow. She was escorted by a law enforcement officer to purchase food but was not allowed to eat it there and was sent back to the holding room. After a nearly 24-hour wait, Klimchuk was sent back to Germany.
Klimchuk states that she had no prior knowledge of the fine and was not shown the penalty protocol at the airport. She suspects that the reason for her denial of entry may be linked to her journalistic work. During her time in Georgia last year, the journalist worked on several articles, including reports on the developments surrounding the Anaklia deep-sea port.
According to Klimchuk, she was willing to pay the so-called fine and even transferred 3,000 GEL to an account provided by the border guards. However, she was later told that paying the fee was pointless because she would not be allowed into the country anyway. The transferred funds were subsequently returned to her.
The journalist’s lawyer, Mariam Jikia, states that Klimchuk was not provided with the necessary documentation, including the penalty protocol, and that the official decision denying her entry cited the non-payment of the fine as the reason. The lawyer announced plans to appeal to the Public Defender to investigate the possible mistreatment of the 8-month pregnant woman.
According to Achara Times, Sulkhan Meskhidze, the founder and journalist of the online publication, became the target of aggression while covering the election for the head of the Adjara branch of the Union of the Blind.
The publication reports that the incident occurred in the courtyard during the coverage of the election process. While he was performing his journalistic duties, an attempt was made to snatch and smash Meskhidze’s phone. According to the outlet, police officers present at the scene witnessed the aggression and the attempt to confiscate the journalist’s phone, but they failed to react.
Achara Times stated that they were unable to capture complete video footage of the incident, as the recording stopped during the struggle to prevent the mobile phone from being damaged. The publication further noted that representatives of the Union of the Blind also refused to allow journalists to enter the voting area to film the proceedings.
The Prosecutor’s Office has summoned Eliso Jariashvili, a journalist and TV host for the television network Formula, for questioning. As the journalist explained, the investigative agency requested her questioning following a report she aired on Formula. Specifically, Jariashvili had prepared an investigative report regarding an assault on journalist Guram Rogava, which took place during the mass protests in November 2024. As it is known, Formula reportedly uncovered the identity of the attacker. According to the online publication Netgazeti, the network states that the identity of Guram Rogava’s attacker was revealed by an employee of the Special Tasks Department.
According to Eliso Jariashvili: “Even though there is no legal necessity for this – since they already know the identity of Guram Rogava’s alleged attacker and can proceed with investigative actions anyway” – she still intends to go to the investigative agency.
On November 29, 2024, a masked law enforcement officer assaulted journalist Guram Rogava during a live broadcast. Rogava was officially recognized as a victim in 2024, yet the investigation failed to identify the attacker.
Following the airing of Formula’s report, Tbilisi District Court Judge Valerian Bugianishvili ordered pretrial detention as a preventative measure for three former employees of the Special Tasks Department. They were arrested in connection with the physical assault against journalist Guram Rogava and protester Zviad Maisashvili. One of the detainees is a current employee of the Security Police. They are being charged with physical violence committed against Rogava and protester Zviad Maisashvili.
