Context
In July, a pattern was documented of the use of legal mechanisms, the imposition of judicial sanctions, and summonses to investigative authorities against activists and critically minded citizens. The documented cases indicate that administrative and investigative mechanisms were used against persons who publicly expressed protest or were actively involved in public processes, serving the purpose of suppressing protest in society.
Incidents:
On 1 July 2024, the court fined citizen Mariam Tsitsikashvili GEL 700 after she expressed protest against Viktor Japaridze. Tsitsikashvili had been administratively detained on 9 June under Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offences — petty hooliganism.
On 23 July 2024, the court fined Davit Katsarava GEL 2,000. Katsarava had been abducted from an anti-Russian protest by special forces officers on 14 May and severely beaten. The judge terminated the proceedings in relation to Article 166, while finding Katsarava administratively liable under Article 173 — failure to comply with a lawful order of a police officer. Katsarava was also prohibited from carrying a firearm for a period of two years.
On 23 July 2024, a dismissed employee of Tbilisi Public School No. 51 linked her dismissal to her participation in protests against the so-called “Russian Law.” Manana Ghvinjilia said that after the protests ended, the school administration asked her to write a resignation letter and leave her position. The teacher assessed the incident as political pressure.
On 20–25 July 2024, the State Security Service of Georgia summoned and questioned Georgian veterans fighting in Ukraine and activists as witnesses in court in connection with a confidential investigation under the articles of overthrow of the state and terrorism. According to Georgian Dream leaders and lawyers, the investigation concerns an alleged version of “preparation of an attack” against Georgian Dream honorary chairperson Bidzina Ivanishvili and other high-ranking officials.
In the so-called “coup case,” the SSG summoned Nadim Khmaladze, a fighter in Ukraine and opponent of the “Russian Law,” while on 23 July it summoned Ukraine war veteran Gela Kakhabrishvili. Within the framework of the investigation, Ukraine war veterans Vazha Tsatsadze, Lasha Chighladze, Beso Bendeliani, Konstantine Jghamaia, and Lasha Rukhaia were also among the persons to be questioned by the SSG
On June 2, it was revealed that 14 employees had been dismissed from the Public Broadcaster’s Adjara TV and Radio under the pretext of a so-called “reorganization.”
Among those fired are five journalists: Irina Kurua, host of the program “Satkmeli”; Maia Merkviladze, head of radio news; and journalists Teona Kharabadze, Levan Uridia, and Salome Gegeshidze. They all received their termination emails simultaneously on June 2. The emails stated that their employment contracts were being severed as part of the reorganization announced at the television station.
In an interview with the publication “Batumelebi”, Irina Kurua linked her dismissal to an attempt to suppress critical voices at the channel: “I haven’t heard a single argument explaining why my show was canceled. The email simply stated that there was no place for the program “Satkmeli” in the new broadcasting grid developed as a result of optimization. I believe they just don’t want critical opinions to be broadcast on television, as viewers regularly heard diverse and critical perspectives on this show.”
Maia Merkviladze also connects her dismissal to her critical stance toward the government:”I am interested in hearing the director’s arguments; otherwise, I have my own and I know exactly why they might have terminated our cooperation. Even though my recent health condition has prevented me from being fully active, I still believe all of this is tied to my critical attitude toward the government.”
Media advocacy organizations assess the dismissal of these journalists as a deliberate attempt to stifle critical opinion. “This is not the first instance of independent voices being marginalized at ‘Adjara TV and Radio’ and within the Public Broadcaster as a whole. Over recent years, a number of similar incidents have occurred, pointing to a consistent erosion of editorial independence by the broadcaster’s management and its subordination to political influence,” the Media Advocacy Coalition noted in its statement.
The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics echoed these concerns: “These dismissals are nothing more than an attempt to drain the Adjara Public Broadcaster of critical thought. This selective, biased approach toward journalists serves the ultimate goal of clearing the information field in Adjara.”
Much like the situation at Adjara TV, firing critical journalists has also become a recurring practice at the Public Broadcaster’s First Channel. Over the past year and a half, management has dismissed numerous journalists who expressed criticism of the First Channel’s editorial policy, or has employed various other punitive measures against them
The Director General of the Georgian Public Broadcaster has imposed another sanction on Givi Chimakadze, a studio cameraman for the Equipment and Technology Operators Group. By the director’s decree, 30% of Givi Chimakadze’s May salary will be deducted.
According to the order, the administration rejected the sick leave certificate submitted by the cameraman, which was issued by the Bochorishvili Clinic in Tbilisi on April 15, 2026. The reason cited for the rejection is that during the period specified in the certificate (April 15–20), Chimakadze was working for another employer.
“This was the job from which the Public Broadcaster was receiving a broadcast signal, again with the participation of the cameraman who was on sick leave,” writes Chimakadze’s colleague, Giga Kitia, who has also been sanctioned on multiple occasions.
This marks the second sanction for Givi Chimakadze. Earlier this year, on February 11, he was formally reprimanded for publishing a statement on social media.
The administration of the First Channel initiated a repressive policy a year ago targeting employees who are critical of the channel’s editorial stance. According to publicly circulated information, up to 30 employees have been subjected to these repressions during this period.
Tbilisi City Court Judge Ekaterine Eliadze dismissed the lawsuit filed by Nino Zautashvili, a dismissed journalist and host, against the Public Broadcaster.
According to Zautashvili’s lawyer, Giorgi Iasashvili, they were seeking the annulment of the dismissal order and her reinstatement to the corresponding position.
“I know that I will see this case through to the end, and I will spare neither time nor energy for it. I know for a fact that I am right, and the judge also knew that the truth was on my side. In these terribly difficult times, when so many unjust decisions have been made, the single most important task remains ensuring the institutional independence of the judiciary,” Nino Zautashvili told Media Checker.
The Tbilisi City Court also dismissed the lawsuit of former Moambe anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, who sought the annulment of his dismissal order from the Public Broadcaster. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeals.
The Public Broadcaster dismissed Nino Zautashvili, the host of the program Real Space, along with Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani on April 11, 2025.
On April 20, Judge Liana Kazhashvili announced a decision in which the court denied the complaint filed by former employees of “Real Space.”
The program “Real Space” aired on the Public Broadcaster until May 5, 2025, when the channel’s management decided to cancel the show. The “Real Space” staff subsequently sued the Public Broadcaster’s management. The decision announced on April 20 concerned the dismissal of Ketevan Kapanadze, Ioseb Katsitadze, Tamar Mshvenieradze, Omar Tsotsoria, and Tukha Kvinikadze. They are seeking the annulment of their dismissal orders and reinstatement to their respective positions at “Real Space” under the terms of their permanent employment contracts dated December 30, 2022.
Since November 2024, following the start of pro-European protests, demonstrators have been demanding open access to the airwaves. Employees of the Public Broadcaster joined this demand, and the “Real Space” team also openly criticized the channel’s editorial policy.
On April 11, 2025, the Public Broadcaster dismissed “Real Space” host Nino Zautashvili and “Moambe” anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani. On May 1, “Real Space” was officially closed, and the contracts of team members who declined new offers were terminated.
Tbilisi City Court Judge Ekaterine Eliadze has dismissed the lawsuit filed against the Public Broadcaster by Nino Zautashvili, a journalist and presenter who was fired from the channel.
According to Zautashvili’s lawyer, Giorgi Iasashvili, they were seeking to have the dismissal order annulled and for her to be reinstated to her position.
“I know I will see this case through to the end, and I won’t begrudge the time or energy it takes. I know for a fact that I am right, and the judge knew the truth was on my side as well. In these incredibly difficult times, when so many unjust decisions have been made, the primary and most vital task remains ensuring the institutional independence of the judiciary,” Nino Zautashvili told Mediachecker.
The Tbilisi City Court also dismissed a lawsuit filed by Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, a former presenter for the news program Moambe, who was also seeking to overturn his dismissal from the Public Broadcaster. This decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeals.
The Public Broadcaster dismissed Nino Zautashvili, the host of the program Real Space, along with Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, on April 11, 2025.
On February 24, the Public Broadcaster reduced the February salary of Ketevan Sinitsa, Human Resources Projects Manager of the Human Resources Management Department, by 30 percent “for disseminating incorrect information in the public space that damages the employer’s reputation.” In the event of a repeat violation, she was threatened with dismissal.
According to an order issued by Tinatin Berdzenishvili, a disciplinary sanction was imposed on Ketevan Sinitsa for sharing a Facebook post by a dismissed employee of the Public Broadcaster, Kakha Melikidze, citing violations of the “Rules for the Use of Social Networks” and provisions of the Broadcasters’ Code of Conduct.
In 2025, employees critical of the channel were dismissed from the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, including Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, journalist and anchor of the news program “Moambe,” and Nino Zautashvili, author and host of the socio-political program “Realuri Sivrtse.”
The channel’s management reportedly adopted a negative stance toward director Kakha Melikidze after he publicly accused the broadcaster’s leadership of pressuring him to frequently show officials of “Georgian Dream,” including Irakli Kobakhidze, during broadcasts of national team football matches.
The Director General of the Public Broadcaster, Tinatin Berdzenishvili, issued a reprimand to Givi Chimakadze, a studio operator in the Technical and Technology Operations Group, for disseminating a statement on social media.
Tinatin Berdzenishvili also warned Givi Chimakadze about possible dismissal from his job “in the event of a similar and/or other type of violation.”
Information about the order was disseminated via social media by “Guardians of the Public Broadcaster.” The document, signed by Tinatin Berdzenishvili, is dated February 11.
In 2025, employees critical of the channel were dismissed from the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, including Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, a journalist and anchor of the news program “Moambe,” Nino Zautashvili, author and host of the socio-political program “Realuri Sivrtse,” and director Kakha Melikidze. The channel’s management reportedly adopted a negative stance toward Melikidze after he publicly exposed the broadcaster’s leadership. According to Melikidze, the management pressured him to frequently show officials of “Georgian Dream,” including Irakli Kobakhidze, during broadcasts of national team football matches.
On December 26, 2025, the Public Broadcaster dismissed director Kakha Melikidze from his position. Kakha Melikidze had been working at the First Channel of the Public Broadcaster since 1998.
According to information from the “Guardians of the Public Broadcaster,” the harassment of Kakha Melikidze by the broadcaster’s management began after the director publicly exposed the leadership, stating that they were pressuring him to frequently show officials from “Georgian Dream,” including Irakli Kobakhidze, during broadcasts of the national football team’s matches.
In 2025, the Public Broadcaster also dismissed the host of “Real Space,” journalist Nino Zautashvili, along with other staff members of the program, due to their critical stance. In addition, the anchor of the news program “Moambe,” Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, was dismissed. On July 30, the segment “People from History” and the program “This Weekend” were also shut down.
The First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster did not renew the employment contract of Anna Metreveli, the assistant producer of the radio programs “Midday Peak” and “Evening Peak,” an employee who had criticized the channel’s editorial policy.
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.”
