Administrative body

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.

Legislative Changes Increase Regulator’s Control Over Broadcasters

On June 12, 2025, the one-party parliament adopted a legislative package in its third reading, which introduced amendments to, among others, the Law on Broadcasting. Under these changes, the Communications Commission was granted the authority to request confidential information about broadcasters from banks through the court system. A new chapter was added to the Administrative Procedures Code Of Georgia to reflect this amendment.

According to the Media Advocacy Coalition, “There is absolutely no necessity to grant such powers to the regulator. Furthermore, the additional powers exceed the agency’s overall mandate. Granting the Commission the ability to breach banking confidentiality creates a new tool for financial pressure and blackmail against the media.”

Initially, the amendments to the Law “On Broadcasting” were adopted by the “Georgian Dream” parliament on April 1, 2025.

According to the amendments, foreign funding of broadcasters was completely banned, the authority of the regulatory body, the National Communications Commission, was significantly increased, in particular, the professional activities of journalists were brought under the scope of regulation.

According to the amendments, it is prohibited for a broadcaster to receive direct or indirect funding from the so-called “foreign power” and for a foreign power to purchase a broadcaster’s services, except for advertising or product placement.
According to the amendment, broadcasters are prohibited from receiving direct or indirect funding in exchange for placing social advertising.
The law considers the following as a foreign power: a) a subject constituting the government system of a foreign state; b) a natural person who is not a citizen of Georgia; c) a legal entity that is not established on the basis of Georgian legislation; d) An organizational unit or other type of association of persons established under the law of a foreign state and/or international law.

The amendment also introduces detailed regulations regarding standards for television and radio broadcasting, due accuracy of facts and the right to reply. Regulations are also added on the fairness and impartiality of facts, inviolability of private life, obtaining and transmitting information using covert methods, reporting on armed conflict, accidents and other emergency situations, and certain issues related to the protection of minors.

Transparency International Georgia states that the law, among other laws adopted by the GD in the past year, pose a threat to the existence of independent media.

Together with this, the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, also known as the “Russian Law,” has been in effect in Georgia since 2024, which was adopted by the Georgian Dream last year despite widespread public opposition and international criticism. It aims to register non-governmental and media outlets as organizations representing the interests of a “foreign power” if 20% of their income comes from foreign organizations.

“Batumelebi” Journalist Denied Entry to Public Event at City Hall

On February 12, 2025, a journalist from Batumelebi was denied entry to a public meeting held at Batumi City Hall on the issue of homelessness. According to the outlet, homeless individuals had informed them about the event. However, when the Batumelebi journalist arrived at the entrance of City Hall, security police officers told them they would not be allowed to attend the meeting. The outlet attempted to clarify the reason with the City Hall’s Public Relations Office but received no response.

The Charter of Journalistic Ethics of Georgia stated it has reasonable grounds to believe that the discriminatory treatment of Batumelebi and the restriction of their legal rights are directly connected to the unlawful detention and imprisonment of Mzia Amaghlobeli, and are part of a broader effort to pressure the outlet:

“By refusing to allow a journalist into an open commission meeting in a public building, the security police and Batumi City Hall violated the Batumi Municipal Council’s regulations, which require the creation of working conditions for journalists in public institutions,” the organization’s statement reads.

Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder and media manager of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, is the first woman journalist in Georgia considered a prisoner of conscience. She was arrested on January 11, 2025, accused of slapping a law enforcement officer, and faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years.

TV Pirveli Journalist Has Press Pass Suspended by Parliament for Six Months

On March 26, 2025, the Parliament of Georgia suspended the accreditation of TV Pirveli journalist Nata Kajaia for six months.

The suspension is related to a report she produced about individuals detained during pro-European protests. Kajaia had approached parliamentary staff for interviews. After being refused, she continued trying to obtain answers from public officials.

“The reaction from Georgian Dream shows that they did not like the segment aired on Saturday, because we told the audience how the persecution is based on falsehoods — in a criminal case involving prisoners of conscience. I approached a parliamentary employee for an interview — the man whose testimony is part of the case against the prisoners of conscience,” Kajaia said in an interview with TV Pirveli.

The incident drew a response from the Media Advocacy Coalition, which stated:
“The regime is systematically abusing independent media. Journalists are being unlawfully obstructed in their professional work. There is a pattern of continuous attacks, intimidation, insults, and disinformation. To this day, no one has been held accountable — neither those who ordered nor those who carried out these systemic crimes.”

The rules for journalist accreditation in the legislature are defined by a decree issued by the Speaker of Parliament on February 6, 2023.

Tok TV and Samkhretis Karibche Journalists Barred from Akhaltsikhe Mayor’s Advisory Council Meeting

On March 26, 2025, journalists were denied entry to a session of the “Civil Advisory Council,” a consultative body of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality City Hall. Journalists from Samkhretis Karibche and TOK TV who arrived at the location were told that they could not enter the public institution because the meeting had already started.

According to Samkhretis Karibche, City Hall has not been providing information about the scheduling of council meetings for months. The media outlet also reports that this information is not being published publicly by the municipality.

Two “Formula” Journalists Banned from Entering Parliament Building

On April 30, 2025, Formula TV journalists Eliso Jariashvili and Tata Forakishvili received notifications that their parliamentary accreditations had been suspended for one month.

In both cases, the journalists were attempting to obtain answers to critical questions from Georgian Dream party MPs. The parliamentary administration deemed this a violation of the “Rules for Accrediting Media Representatives in the Parliament of Georgia.”Tata Forakishvili’s accreditation was suspended at the request of Georgian Dream MP Nino Tsilosani, while Eliso Jariashvili’s suspension was initiated by MP Archil Gorduladze, also from the ruling party.

“Tabula” Journalist Luka Katsitadze Fined 5,000 GEL

On April 12, 2025, Tabula news agency journalist Luka Katsitadze was fined 5,000 GEL for the alleged “illegal blocking of the road.”

The online outlet reports that Luka Katsitadze was performing his professional duties on Shota Rustaveli Avenue on April 12. The publication also notes that this is not the first instance in which journalists have been fined without legitimate grounds.

Center for Media, Information and Social Research has documented dozens of such cases.

Journalists were not allowed to attend the meeting at the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara

On April 7, 2025, journalists were not allowed to attend a session of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. The session was convened to appoint the new head of the government of Adjara. The live broadcast of the session was also cut off.

This is not the first time journalists have been banned from public meetings. On April 4, media crews from Formula, TV Pirveli, and Mtis Ambebi were denied access to a municipal assembly session in Chiatura.

“Such incidents are part of the Georgian Dream party’s policy aimed at silencing and marginalizing independent media. We are witnessing systematic pressure against critical media, including physical violence, threats, unlawful interference in their work, verbal abuse, legal persecution, and discriminatory treatment in accessing information. Despite this ongoing violence, no perpetrators have been held accountable,” stated the Media Advocacy Coalition.

“Qronika+” Journalist Irina Makaridze Accused of Illegally Blocking the Road

On April 6, 2025, journalist Irina Makaridze, reporting for the newspaper “Qronika+” and the news agency “CNews“, was covering ongoing protest on Shota Rustaveli Avenue when she was fined 5,000 GEL by police for “illegally blocking the road.”

The journalist plans to appeal the fine.

Center for Media, Information and Social Research has documented dozens of similar cases.

Journalists were not allowed to attend The Chiatura Municipality Assembly meeting

On April 4, 2025, journalists from TV channels Formula, TV Pirveli, and Mtis Ambebi were denied entry to a meeting of The Chiatura Municipality Assembly.

The Media Advocacy Coalition called the incident yet another example of a systemic campaign against the media, aimed at suppressing critical voices and restricting the free exchange of information.

“Such incidents are part of the Georgian Dream party’s policy to silence and marginalize independent media. We are witnessing systemic pressure on critical media, which manifests in physical violence against journalists, threats, unlawful obstruction of their work, verbal abuse, legal persecution, and discriminatory treatment when accessing information. Despite this ongoing violence, no perpetrators have been held accountable,” the Coalition stated in its conclusion.