Persecution for expressing critical position

Pro-government “Imedi” is attempting to discredit independent online media outlets

On November 23, a segment aired on the pro-government television channel “Imedi” aimed at discrediting the platform “Sinatle Media.” “Sinatle Media” is an association of 21 independent online media outlets, created after legislative regulations passed by “Georgian Dream” placed media organizations in a difficult position. Specifically, laws passed in the spring restrict media from receiving grants, label them as conduits for “foreign forces,” and create the threat of criminal prosecution. The media outlets decided to form an association and request financial support from the public.

The title of the “Imedi” segment was “Foreign Intelligence Media Network.” The program’s host, Irakli Chikhladze, claimed that “it has been analyzed how foreign intelligence agencies operate with secret scenarios,” during which the aforementioned media outlets were portrayed as part of this scenario. In the subsequent 15-minute segment, it was repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that the media outlets had received 17 million GEL in funding.

“Sinatle Media” responded to the disinformation segment aired on the pro-government channel with the following statement:

“Due to the segment prepared by ‘Imedi’ television, where Russian disinformation narratives and obvious lies deliberately fabricated by local propagandists are intertwined, we are submitting a joint statement to the self-regulatory body and demand a denial of the false information aired in the segment. We also demand live airtime to give us the opportunity to respond to these absurd accusations.”

TV Pirveli journalist Giorgi Mamniashvili was detained while carrying out his professional duties

On November 22, during a protest in Tbilisi, near Ingorokva Street, “TV Pirveli” journalist Giorgi Mamniashvili was detained. According to the television company, the journalist was performing his professional duties at the time of his arrest and was covering the protest. For several hours, the “TV Pirveli” newsroom was unable to get in touch with him.

At the moment of his detention, Mamniashvili was filming the police arresting other protesters on his mobile phone and sending the footage to the newsroom, when officers attempted to seize his phone. Shortly after, they ordered his arrest. In the video recorded by Mamniashvili, he can be heard telling the police that he is a journalist and is carrying out his professional duties.

According to the journalist’s lawyer, after the arrest, Mamniashvili was treated in a degrading and humiliating manner at the Dighomi pre-trial detention facility. Specifically, for several hours, his hands were cuffed behind his back, he was fully stripped, and forced to perform so-called “squats.”

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze described the practice of strip-searching detainees upon admission to the detention facility as “a required procedure to document any possible injuries.” Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, however, calls the strip-searching of detainees “degrading and humiliating treatment.”

“The case of Giorgi Mamniashvili is a clear example of the repressive policies of Georgian Dream, aimed at restricting independent media and silencing critical voices,” the Media Advocacy Coalition stated.

The Penitentiary Service discredits “TV Pirveli” and “Formula”

On November 16, the Penitentiary Service released a public statement accusing the media outlets TV Pirveli and Formula of disseminating false information. The agency responded to stories circulated in the media, where prisoners spoke about the unbearable conditions in the prison, and their family members asked the Public Defender (Ombudsman) to start an urgent monitoring of the penitentiary system. They also demanded that the Ombudsman establish how many medical personnel serve the Gldani Prison and who is responsible for the spoiled food brought into the facility.

The Penitentiary Service responded to the prisoners’ accusations with a statement, noting that such problems do not exist in the system.

On November 15, the agency also dismissed as false a story aired on TV Pirveli’s Saturday program, in which a prisoner of conscience, Rezo Kiknadze, described the situation in the system in a letter.

This is not the first time that “Georgian Dream” and the institutions under its influence have attempted to discredit critical and independent media outlets.

The Parliament suspended the accreditation of a journalist from the TV “Formula” for a period of one month

On November 12, Tiko Eradze released a video filmed in the Parliament’s Plenary Hall, where she recorded “Georgian Dream” MP Eka Chichinadze listening to a video recording on her phone from the lodge designated for journalists. Shortly after the video was published, Tiko Eradze herself posted on Facebook, expressing her assumption that her accreditation would be suspended.

On November 13, the journalist was informed by a letter from the Head of the Parliament Apparatus that her accreditation had been suspended for a period of one month. The letter explained the grounds for the suspension: “You filmed the mobile phone screen of Member of Parliament Eka Chichinadze from the location designated for the media without permission.”

The restriction of journalists’ activities in the Parliament building by “Georgian Dream” is linked to the approval of the Rules of Accreditation for Media in the Parliament of Georgia on February 6, 2023. The new regulations included restrictions such as a ban on filming without prior permission, the journalist’s obligation to stop an interview if a Member of Parliament refuses, and the requirement that a journalist must not film a Member of Parliament’s phone or other electronic device screen without their consent in a way that allows the information or image on it to be perceived. These changes drew criticism from the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, which stated that such regulations made it impossible to obtain and deliver information to the public.

This is not the first time that the Parliament has used the media accreditation rules against representatives of independent media.

A member of the supervisory board of a state company and a relative of a businessman close to “Georgian Dream” threatened a “TV Pirveli” journalist once again

On November 2, 2025, Tea Gabadadze, a member of the supervisory board of the state corporation “Sakrusenergo” and a relative of a businessman close to “Georgian Dream,” threatened journalist Vika Bukia, the host of “TV Pirveli’s” author’s program, with physical violence on social media. Gabadadze’s threat followed a photo posted by Vika Bukia on social media with a sarcastic caption, featuring members of “Georgian Dream” and their supporters, including Gabadadze. “I will cut your fingers with secateurs,” Gabadadze wrote to the journalist, and subsequently repeated the threat of physical violence against the journalist multiple times in the comments.

It should be noted that this is not the first time Gabadadze has publicly threatened a journalist. On June 7, 2025, “TV Pirveli” journalists Nodar Meladze and Tea Dolenjashvili also became the targets of her threats. At that time, her threats followed a story prepared by the journalists: “Nodar Meladze, I will rip your head off (in the full sense of the word) and take Tamta Dolenjashvili with it,” Tea Gabadadze wrote.

Another attempt by the Speaker of Parliament to discredit Netgazeti

On October 25, the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, once again tried to discredit Netgazeti. In a post published on his social media account, Shalva Papuashvili referred to Netgazeti as “a propaganda media outlet supporting terrorists.”

Papuashvili attached to his post a screenshot of a Netgazeti article in which the outlet referred to Zviad Kvaratskhelia, who was detained during a pro-European rally, as a “prisoner of conscience.” It was precisely this term that angered the Speaker of Parliament from the Georgian Dream party. Critical media outlets, including Netgazeti, often use the term “prisoner of conscience” when reporting on those detained during pro-European demonstrations.

Shalva Papuashvili frequently attempts to discredit critical media outlets, including the online platform Netgazeti, through his social media posts.

The Georgian Public Broadcaster has imposed a disciplinary sanction on Kakha Melikidze for the second time

On October 25, Kakha Melikidze, the director of the on-air equipment and technology group at the Georgian Public Broadcaster, wrote on social media that he had received another warning from the channel and would be fined 30% of his November salary.

Melikidze noted that the reason for this was an interview he gave to the international publication Internazionale. In the interview, he spoke about the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession talks by Georgian Dream’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the developments surrounding Channel One.

“I received a second warning, and it will probably be over soon, and I will be fired from the Public Broadcaster,” Melikidze wrote on Facebook.

The Public Broadcaster first imposed disciplinary sanctions on Kakha Melikidze in April, along with other journalists critical of the channel. At that time, the channel’s management considered the employees’ actions to be “calling into question the broadcaster’s editorial independence and impartiality through statements disseminated in public space and, as a result, causing reputational damage to the employer.”

TV Formula founder and director Giorgi Liponava arrested for participating in a protest

On October 24, 2025, the founder and director of TV Formula, Giorgi Liponava, was arrested for participating in a protest. He was sentenced to three days of administrative detention.

Giorgi Liponava, along with other detained citizens, including media representatives, is accused of blocking the road.

The Georgian Dream party has fast-tracked legislative amendments that significantly restrict freedom of assembly and expression. According to the amendments, administrative detention of up to 15 days, without the option of a fine, is imposed for wearing a mask at a rally, possessing tear gas, or blocking the road. In addition, judges will no longer have the right to impose fines as an administrative penalty in cases of administrative offenses.

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

Writer and host of one of TV Formula’s programs, Zviad Kvaratskhelia, was arrested for participating in a protest

On October 24, 2025, Zviad Kvaratskhelia, a writer, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Intellect, was arrested for participating in a protest. The court sentenced him to three days of administrative detention.

Zviad Kvaratskhelia, along with other detained citizens, including media representatives, is accused of blocking a road.

The Georgian Dream party has expedited legislative amendments that significantly restrict freedom of assembly and expression. According to the amendments, administrative detention of up to 15 days, without the option of a fine, is imposed for wearing a mask at a rally, possessing tear gas, or blocking a road. In addition, judges will no longer have the right to impose fines as an administrative penalty in cases of administrative offenses.

“The arrest of journalists by Georgian Dream is a direct attack on freedom of the media and expression. Under such conditions, the activities of independent media face serious threats, which significantly restricts the right of a democratic society to be informed,” the Media Advocacy Coalition said in a statement.

Former Georgian Public Broadcaster journalist Vasil-Ivanov Chikovani was arrested for participating in a protest

On October 21, 2025, journalist Vasil-Ivanov Chikovani was reportedly arrested for participating in a protest. According to media reports, his spouse was also detained. A judge imposed a fine of 5,000 GEL on him.

In the spring of 2025, Vasil-Ivanov Chikovani was dismissed from the Georgian Public Broadcaster due to his critical stance toward the broadcaster and his participation in protests.

New legislative changes introduced by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, have significantly restricted the freedoms of assembly and expression. Citizens and activists are being arrested for taking part in protests. In addition to Vasil-Ivanov Chikovani, Formula TV journalists Vakho Sanaia, Keta Tsitskishvili, and Tsira Zhvania were also detained. On October 22, Lika Basialia-Shavgulidze, a member of the Georgian Public Broadcaster Supervisory Board, was arrested. Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov was also detained for participating in protests.

The arrests of journalists by Georgian Dream have been widely criticized by both local and international organizations, which view them as an attack on media freedom and freedom of expression.