Persecution for expressing critical position

Grant to “Tabula” Blocked Under New Law

On June 11, 2025, it was announced that the online outlet Tabula would no longer be able to receive a £50,000 grant from the UK government, which it had won through a competitive selection process.

According to the outlet, the funding was intended to support public awareness around the upcoming municipal elections in Georgia. In its statement, Tabula explained that, in compliance with Georgia’s newly adopted “Law on Grants,” the UK government had reached out to the Georgian government to obtain formal approval for the grant. The response from the Georgian authorities indicated delays in the approval process, after which the UK government canceled the project.

The UK government also released a statement confirming the cancellation. It noted that the UK had made a good-faith effort to secure the Georgian government’s approval for several grant projects aimed at supporting civil society in voter education and election monitoring. However, “following discussions with the Georgian authorities, we were informed that the government’s resolution on the ‘grant approval procedure’ has not yet been finalized. As a result, there are currently no clear mechanisms or timelines for decision-making under this law. Unfortunately, due to this uncertainty, we are forced to cancel our planned grant proposals intended to support transparency and competitiveness in the upcoming municipal elections,” the statement said.

The controversial “Law on Grants” was amended by the ruling Georgian Dream party on April 16, 2025. Under the new regulations, donors must request approval from the Georgian government before issuing a grant. If a recipient accepts a grant without prior government approval, they face a fine equal to twice the amount of the grant received.

Journalists Summoned to Court Over Criticism of the Politicians on Social Media

On June 12, 2025, six journalists were summoned to Tbilisi City Court for expressing critical opinions about the politicians on social media. The journalists are Eka Mishveladze (TV Pirveli), Vika Bukia (TV Pirveli), Misha Mshvildadze (TV Formula), Dea Mamiseishvili (Mtavari Arkhi), Vakho Sanaia (TV Formula), and Nanuka Zhorzholiani (independent journalist). They were informed that they are being accused of “insulting Georgian Dream politicians” on Facebook.

Three of the six – Eka Mishveladze, Misha Mshvildadze, and Dea Mamiseishvili – were found guilty of administrative offenses by the court and fined. Mishvildadze and Mishveladze were each fined 4,000 GEL, while Mamiseishvili was fined 3,000 GEL.

Misha Mshvildadze was fined for a February 8 post about Georgian Dream parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili. Dea Mamiseishvili received her fine for a February 25 post referencing Mamuka Mdinaradze, the party’s executive secretary. Eka Mishveladze was fined for a May 31 status about MP Mariam Lashkhi.

Nanuka Zhorzholiani is accused of “insulting” Georgian Dream MPs Tea Tsulukiani and Mariam Lashkhi. A decision in her case is expected on June 17. Vika Bukia is also being sued for allegedly insulting MP Mariam Lashkhi in a video she posted on May 13. Her case has been postponed until June 18. Vakho Sanaia’s case has also been postponed to June 18. He is accused of insulting Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and MPs Tea Tsulukiani and Irakli Zarkua. On June 20 it became known that Sanaia was fined 4,000 GEL.

In all six cases, the legal basis for the complaints is a newly enacted article 173^16 of the Administrative Offenses Code. This provision imposes liability for actions such as verbal insults, swearing, offensive slurs, or other abusive behavior directed at state-political officials, public servants, or equivalent individuals during or in connection with the performance of their official duties. Penalties range from a fine of 1,500 to 4,000 GEL or up to 45 days of imprisonment.

According to the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, posts published on social media, unless they contain a threat of real risk and are directed at politicians who have a high duty of tolerance, are protected by freedom of expression. “Any judicial interpretation made contrary to this standard would be a precedent for mass censorship,” the organization’s statement reads.

Legislative Changes Threaten Media Freedom

On June 12, Parliament passed amendments to the “Law on Grants” in the third reading with 84 votes. The amendments broaden the definition of a grant to include technical and expert assistance, knowledge sharing, and other similar types of contributions.

This change follows an earlier amendment made in April, which requires the government or an authorized official to approve the receipt of foreign grants. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, describes this as a mechanism to protect state sovereignty. However, civil society groups argue that the changes are aimed at dismantling civil society itself.

For NGOs and the media, international grants are a key source of funding for independent work. These amendments are viewed as part of a broader legislative package targeting civil society and the media.

Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani Temporarily Suspended From Hosting Public Broadcaster’s News Program

On February 4, 2025, The Georgian Public Broadcaster temporarily suspended journalist Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani from hosting the 6:00 PM news program Moambe.

The journalist himself shared the news on Facebook. The reason for the suspension was the refusal of Moambe producers to continue working with Ivanov-Chikovani.

“I no longer host the 6:00 PM Moambe. The official explanation – as you may know, at today’s Board of Trustees meeting, the producers of Moambe expressed their position regarding your public statements (including those made on air) and declared their refusal to continue working with you as a host,” the journalist wrote.

The Media Advocacy Coalition responded to the incident, expressing solidarity with Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani and all his colleagues who are fighting for editorial independence and responsible journalism at the Public Broadcaster.

“The Media Advocacy Coalition condemns the Public Broadcaster’s leadership for the temporary suspension of Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani from anchoring the news. This decision aims to silence an objective, impartial journalist who actively supports Georgia’s European path, along with his colleagues,” the coalition stated.

Update: On February 26, 2025, the Moambe news program on the Public Broadcaster’s First Channel was hosted by a new anchor, Lasha Berdzenishvili, instead of Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani.

Criticism of Editorial Policy Leads to Employee’s Dismissal at the Georgian Public Broadcaster

The Georgian Public Broadcaster did not renew the employment contract of Ana Metreveli, assistant producer of the radio programs “Afternoon Peak” and “Evening Peak.” She was an employee who had criticized the channel’s editorial policy.

In a conversation with “Publika,” Ana Metreveli stated that management made the decision without consulting the main producer. She links this decision to her recent activism. Ana Metreveli is a member of the organization “Defenders of the Georgian Public Broadcaster,” a union of employees advocating for the protection of public broadcasting principles.

The official reason given for not renewing her contract was cost optimization. Ana publicly disclosed her salary, which was 490 GEL (net).

This is the second such incident recently at the Georgian Public Broadcaster. On February 4, 2025, the Georgian Public Broadcaster temporarily suspended journalist Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, the anchor of the 6 PM news, from hosting the program. He had also criticized the channel’s editorial policy.

Journalist Removed from Broadcast After Criticizing Public Broadcaster’s Policy

On March 23, 2025, it became known that Ani Jobava, a journalist and contributor to the morning program at the Georgian Public Broadcaster — where she had worked for seven years — was removed from on-air duties. The journalist announced the news on social media.

She links the decision to her critical stance toward the channel’s editorial policy.

“Hi, I’m Ani Jobava, a journalist for the Public Broadcaster’s morning show. I was not called in… First they excluded me from meetings, then cut off communication, and that’s how it went for over a month and a half,” Jobava wrote on social media.

Ani Jobava is one of the journalists who signed a staff statement condemning and protesting violence against fellow citizens and colleagues. The statement also called for the broadcaster’s airtime to be used for amplifying public opinion and encouraging open debate.

Similar to Ani Jobava, the broadcaster’s management also removed news anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani from the air. He, too, has been critical of the Public Broadcaster’s editorial direction.

Propaganda Channel ‘Imedi’ Attacks Independent Public Broadcaster Journalists Nino Zautashvili and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani

On March 27, 2025, the propagandist TV channel Imedi spread disinformation targeting critically-minded journalists from the Georgian Public Broadcaster — Nino Zautashvili and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani — accusing them of receiving “illicit income.”

Imedi also accused other critically-inclined journalists from the Public Broadcaster — Guranda Goginashvili, Tukha Kvinikadze, and Tamar Mshvenieradze — of the same. These journalists are part of the program Real Space, hosted by Nino Zautashvili.

The initial report by Imedi claimed that Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani’s wife owned an advertising company. Chikovani responded to the disinformation on social media, accusing the TV station of spreading lies.

Imedi later deleted the information about Chikovani and admitted that they had mistaken the journalist’s wife for another individual. However, the accusations against Nino Zautashvili remain accessible.

It is worth noting that the accusations of “illicit income” against the critically-minded journalists coincided with threats of legal action from the Public Broadcaster’s board of trustees, which is linked to the ruling party Georgian Dream. On March 21, 2025, members of the board of trustees associated with Georgian Dream demanded during a board meeting that the Prosecutor’s Office launch an investigation against journalists Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili due to their critical stance toward the broadcaster’s editorial policy.

Former Employees of “First Channel” Barred from Attending Public Broadcaster’s Board Meeting

On April 29, 2025, a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster was held. In accordance with existing procedures, Nino Zautashvili, Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, Giga Kitia, and Giorgi Iasashvili submitted written requests to attend the session. However, the board denied them access. Nino Zautashvili shared this information in a social media post.

As a reminder, Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili were dismissed from First Channel on April 11 of this year. Both journalists had openly expressed protest against the Georgian Dream party’s policies on air, supported the pro-European movement, and showed strong solidarity with Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti.

Giga Kitia had received a formal written warning on April 17, 2025, for his criticism of the Public Broadcaster’s editorial policy.

Georgian Public Broadcaster imposes Disciplinary Sanctions on Three More Employees

On April 17, 2025, the management of the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster imposed disciplinary sanctions on three employees who have criticized the channel’s editorial policy, which they allege is biased in favor of the government. The employees are: Realuri Sivrtse (Real Space) editor Tukha Kvinikadze, executive producer of the Weekend Show Tamar Chincharauli, and Weekend Show correspondent Ana Abakelia. The disciplinary orders were signed by the broadcaster’s director, Tinatin Berdzenishvili.

According to the orders, the employees were sanctioned for “calling into question the broadcaster’s editorial independence and impartiality through statements made in the public sphere, thereby causing reputational harm to the employer.” The sanction is effective for one year. If the employees continue to criticize the channel during this period, they risk dismissal.

With these latest actions, disciplinary sanctions have now been issued to a total of seven employees at the Public Broadcaster. On April 11, similar warnings were given to Realuri Sivrtse journalist Tamar Mshvenieradze and anchor Ioseb Katsitadze, as well as technical director and part-time sports director Kakha Melikidze, and branding and promotion director Irma Chubinidze. That same day, two of the channel’s prominent on-air personalities were dismissed for also criticizing the broadcaster’s editorial stance.

Georgian Public Broadcaster Imposes Disciplinary Sanctions on Four Employees Critical of the Channel

The management of the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster has imposed disciplinary sanctions on four employees who have publicly criticized the channel’s editorial policy, accusing it of bias in favor of the government.

The employees are: journalist Tamar Mshvenieradze and anchor Ioseb Katsitadze from the program Realuri Sivrtse (Real Space), technical director and part-time sports channel director Kakha Melikidze, and branding and promotion director Irma Chubinidze.

Ioseb Katsitadze shared the disciplinary document on social media. According to the document, he is being sanctioned for “calling into question the broadcaster’s editorial independence and impartiality through public statements, thereby causing reputational harm to the employer.” The notice states that if Katsitadze repeats such conduct within the next 12 months, he will be dismissed. It is presumed that the same consequence may apply to the other three employees if they continue their criticism.

Katsitadze, Mshvenieradze, and Chubinidze are members of the Defenders of the Public Broadcaster movement and have been speaking out in recent months about political influence within the channel. On February 3, 2025, at a meeting of the broadcaster’s board of trustees, Kakha Melikidze publicly stated that the channel’s management interfered with his editorial work and repeatedly requested the on-air appearance of public officials during match broadcasts.

Today, April 11, it was also announced that the Public Broadcaster has dismissed two of its prominent on-air personalities, Nino Zautashvili and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, who had likewise criticized the station’s editorial policies.