Administrative body

Journalists Giorgi Akhalkatsi and Lado Bichashvili, Who Filmed Footage of Police Violence, Summoned for Questioning

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.

Communications Commission Fines TV Company “Formula” 2,500 GEL

The Georgian Communications Commission found TV Company “Formula” in violation of the Law of Georgia “On Broadcasting” and imposed a fine of 2,500 GEL as a sanction.

The Commission initiated the proceedings based on its own media monitoring conducted during the month of April. The Communications Commission determined that “Formula” violated newly introduced articles of the broadcasting law that regulate content-related issues specifically, Paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 of Article 54. The Commission fined “Formula” for using phrases in its news programs such as “the head of the Georgian Dream government,” “Ivanishvili’s regime,” “the regime’s prosecutor’s office,” “the Dream’s prime minister,” and other similar terms. Additionally, it deemed the broadcast of a report about children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy without a comment from the Ministry of Health as problematic, ruling it a violation of the requirement to maintain balance.

“Given that TV Company ‘Formula’ had already received a written warning for a similar violation within the past year, the Communications Commission imposed the minimum fine of 2,500 GEL on the broadcaster in accordance with the Law of Georgia ‘On Broadcasting,'” reads the statement from the Communications Commission. “Formula,” alongside other television networks, received the initial written warning on April 8. In that instance as well, the Commission raised identical issues against the channel.

“The attempt to normalize censorship and interfere in editorial affairs is evident,” stated the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics in its assessment of the incident, expressing deep concern over this growing trend.

Parliament Revokes Accreditations of “Studio Monitor” and “Publika” Ahead of Schedule

The Parliament of Georgia has prematurely revoked the accreditations of the online publications Publika and Monitori, which were initially issued for a one-year term.

In the May 21 decrees signed by the Head of the Parliamentary Staff, Kakha Okrojanashvili, and delivered to the media outlets, the stated reason for the revocation is the absence of their accredited journalists from the Parliament for ten consecutive weeks during the current parliamentary session (February 5, 2026 – April 17, 2026). Both Publika and Monitor each had four accredited journalists at the Parliament.

The Parliament’s Public Relations Department told Publika that this is the first instance of journalists having their accreditations prematurely revoked under this specific article. This regulation has been in effect since 2023. Monitor plans to appeal the Parliament’s decision in court.

It is worth noting that a non-accredited journalist from Studio Monitori previously faced difficulties obtaining even a one-time pass to enter the Parliament. On February 17 and 19, Monitor journalist Marika Dudunia applied twice for a special one-time pass, but the Parliament denied her requests.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has assessed the incident as a deliberate attempt to restrict journalists from independent media outlets from accessing public information and public spaces, thereby hindering the performance of their professional duties.

“All of this ultimately harms the population of Georgia, leaving them without reliable and verified information on issues of vital importance to them,” the Charter’s statement reads.

New Division for Public Communication Monitoring to Be Established at the Ministry of Internal Affairs

According to Mamuka Mdinaradze, State Minister for Coordination Among Law Enforcement Agencies, a new division will be established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Its function will be to monitor hate speech, offensive campaigns, and aggressive communication in the public sphere.

According to Mdinaradze, the division will observe any type of public communication, including statements that the government assesses as containing hate speech, inciting strife, violating personal dignity, or other communications of a similar nature.

He further stated that the division will operate proactively, and its response will not rely solely on citizen complaints. The agency itself will conduct monitoring and legal assessments, forwarding materials to the court when necessary.

Mdinaradze claimed that the goal of the new mechanism is not to restrict freedom of expression. According to him, “no one will be subjected to an administrative penalty for criticism.” However, in cases where communication takes on an offensive or strife-inciting character, the court may even impose administrative imprisonment.

The initiative to create this new division is particularly noteworthy against the backdrop of recent trends in Georgia, where there have been numerous instances of individuals facing administrative liability for public expression, including social media posts. In response to Mdinaradze’s announcement, Tamar Oniani, Chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, stated that the proposed mechanism “appears to be a form of censorship and has nothing to do with the balance of interests in a democratic society.”

TV Company “Trialeti” Assesses Public Registry Decision as a Risk of Disrupting Company Operations

TV Company “Trialeti” states that the Public Registry has suspended the registration of the company’s updated charter. According to the channel, this decision gives a single minority partner the leverage to disrupt the company’s operations.

The dispute centers around a demand from “Accept” LLC. The company is requesting that decisions on significant matters, including the transfer of shares, be made only with the unanimous consent of all partners, rather than by a majority vote.

Currently, the shares of “Trialeti” are distributed as follows:

Jondo Nanetashvili: 50%
Nino Gagnidze: 40%
“Accept” LLC: 10%

Under the existing charter, a three-quarters (3/4) majority is sufficient to pass certain decisions—a rule that “Accept” currently opposes.

According to the channel, an attempt was made to adopt the updated charter during a partners’ meeting on May 7, 2026. However, the representative of “Accept” refused to sign the meeting minutes. Despite this, the charter was submitted to the Public Registry the following day. The Registry subsequently suspended the registration, arguing that the updated charter did not reflect a position agreed upon by “Accept”.

“Trialeti” argues that the Public Registry misinterpreted the law, thereby granting a single partner the power to stall the company’s registration and business activities. The channel has already appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office regarding the issue.

Furthermore, “Trialeti” points to specific circumstances involving “Accept” LLC. According to a 2015 report by Transparency International Georgia, Kakha Kobiashvili who is connected to the company is a relative of Bidzina Ivanishvili and has figured as the legal representative for several offshore companies.

TV Formula Journalist Eliso Jariashvili Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office for Questioning

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.

Journalist Guram Rogava Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office for Questioning

On May 6, journalist Guram Rogava was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning.

“Tomorrow, at 12:00 PM Tbilisi time, I will be questioned,” Guram Rogava wrote on social media.

The Prosecutor’s Office also 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 the assault on journalist Guram Rogava, which took place during the mass protests in November 2024. Formula reportedly uncovered the identity of the attacker. According to the online publication Netgazeti, the network states that the identity of Rogava’s attacker was revealed by an employee of the Special Tasks Department.

On November 29, 2024, a masked law enforcement officer assaulted Guram Rogava while he was covering the protest live on air.

Guram Rogava was officially recognized as a victim shortly after, 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. 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.

Actors dismissed from Marjanishvili Theatre

According to publicly available information, nine members of the troupe of Kote Marjanishvili State Academic Theatre were dismissed, including Eka Nizharadze, Natia Gubenko, Maia Katsitadze, Irakli Cholokashvili, Ninaka Gelashvili, Guram Jashi, and Zaza Iakashvili.

The theatre has not issued a public statement regarding any reorganization and has not provided reasons for the dismissals. According to the actors, in January, instead of the usual one-year contracts, they were offered three-month contracts, which expired on 30 April.

“I did not receive any official notification. They simply offered a three-month contract for the first time, and this was a sign for me that they intended to terminate the contract,” – stated Irakli Cholokashvili in an interview with TV Pirveli.

The dismissals took place against the backdrop of the active participation of part of the theatre community in anti-government and pro-European demonstrations. According to the dismissed actors and media reports, their civic engagement may have been the reason for the dismissals.

“TV Pirveli” views statements from the Prosecutor’s Office and “Georgian Dream” MPs as an attempt to pressure the investigative journalists of “Shabatis Eteri”

A report aired on April 25 by “TV Pirveli’s” investigative program, “Shabatis Eteri” (Saturday Broadcast), was followed by a series of statements directed against the television company. The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia accuses the station of spreading disinformation.

Specifically, the program “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday” prepared an investigative report regarding Bezhan Bezhuashvili, the father of Tamar Bezhuashvili, a prosecutor involved in high-profile cases. Tamar Bezhuashvili is leading the cases of Paata Burchuladze, Irakli Nadiradze, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze. According to the journalistic investigation, the prosecutor’s father defrauded business partners, thereby seizing their shares, funds, and real estate. The report also discusses the prosecutor’s alleged influence, which may be the reason for the delay in the legal proceedings initiated against Bezhan Bezhuashvili.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia released a statement regarding this matter, calling the “TV Pirveli” material “yet another disinformation report.” According to the agency, the television company “is deliberately preparing a report for the second time regarding the business activities of the prosecutor’s father and is completely unjustifiably linking them to Tamar Bezhuashvili’s professional activities.”

“The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia will not allow such attacks on the prosecutors of high-profile criminal cases, which aim to discredit the prosecutor and the agency, and will respond accordingly,” the statement reads.

Journalist Nodar Meladze also responded to the incident, noting that the attack on the “Shabatis Eteri” team is intended to pressure journalists:

“We, the investigative project ‘Shabatis Eteri’ of ‘TV Pirveli,’ consider the orchestrated attacks on our team as pressure on journalists. The goal of these actions is to force media representatives to cease their professional activities and refuse to prepare investigative reports. For the second day now, a series of attacks by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and ‘Georgian Dream’ MPs has been underway against the investigative journalists of the ‘Shabatis Eteri’ program.””TV Pirveli” views statements from the Prosecutor’s Office and “Georgian Dream” MPs as an attempt to pressure the investigative journalists of “Shabatis Eteri”

The practice of using seizures against activists continues

Civil activist Giorgi Akhobadze shared information on social media and published a photo, according to which the National Bureau of Enforcement notified him that his bank accounts had been placed under seizure. According to the document, the amount subject to seizure is 5,350 GEL.

The activist has not provided any further explanation; however, in light of existing practice, it is likely that the case concerns fines related to allegations of blocking a road. Recently, a number of similar cases have been documented, where activists had not been informed in advance about the fines and learned of them only after seizure measures were imposed on their bank accounts.In the same context, writer Beka Kurkhuli also wrote on social media: “Our ‘honourable government’ placed my bank account under seizure while I am in the combat zone in the Donetsk region, in the war in Ukraine. First, they fined me 35,000 GEL for standing in my own city, on my own Rustaveli Avenue, and for defending the children they mercilessly targeted and beat; then, as soon as they found out that I was at war, they imposed the seizure,” Kurkhuli wrote.