legal
On March 25, 2025, Nino Dalakishvili, a correspondent for Voice of America in Georgia, was fined 5,000 GEL for blocking the road.
Like other journalists, Dalakishvili is accused of “artificially blocking the road” while performing her professional duties—reporting live from the area near the Parliament building.
On April 10, 2025, Judge Nino Enukidze fined photographer Goga Chanadiri 5,000 GEL for “artificially blocking the road.” Like other journalists, he is accused of blocking Rustaveli Avenue. At the time, Chanadiri was performing his professional duties.
Responding to the court’s decision on social media, Goga Chanadiri wrote that he had not missed this or nearly any other protest and had covered them in various ways. He considers the imposed fine to be unfair.
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.
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.
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.
On June 9, Batumi City Court will hear yet another administrative offense case against journalist Mzia Amaglobeli. According to information shared on May 7 by Amaglobeli’s legal representative, Nona Kurdovanidze, head of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has filed an additional charge against the journalist. This time, she is accused of “damaging the appearance of a building” — for posting a protest sign during a demonstration on January 11, a sign that was immediately removed after it was put up.
It’s worth noting that Amaglobeli was initially detained on the spot for this act under administrative procedure. However, it later became clear that simply posting the sign did not legally justify her detention, and she was released about an hour later. The Ministry of Internal Affairs subsequently amended the offense record to claim she had disobeyed a police order, in an effort to justify the arrest.
In that case, two levels of court found Amaglobeli guilty and imposed a fine of 2,000 GEL.
Now, despite a legal ruling already having been made on what is essentially the same action, Batumi City Court is reviewing the incident under a new legal classification. The case is being heard by Judge Mariam Fomaeva, who was appointed in December 2024 on a probationary basis.
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.
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.
On June 6, 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) rejected the appeal of Publika journalist Basti Mgaloblishvili, which challenged a 5,000 GEL fine issued against him. The fine had been imposed for allegedly blocking Rustaveli Avenue.
The MIA fined Mgaloblishvili in February 2025. The journalist submitted evidence to the ministry showing he was performing his professional duties—reporting on a pro-European protest that began on the country’s main avenue in November 2024 and has continued uninterrupted to this day. Video footage recorded by Mgaloblishvili on the day the fine was issued confirms that he was carrying out journalistic work. Additionally, he was clearly wearing press identification in the footage. However, the MIA did not consider this sufficient to confirm his professional status.
In contrast, in another case, an MIA representative explained that journalist Mariam Kvashebaya was fined for blocking the road specifically because she was not wearing visible press credentials that would verify she was working in a professional capacity.
“MIA once again confirms that journalistic work on the street has become punishable. Against the backdrop of legislative and physical attacks on the media, this is a very dangerous precedent—where the Ministry decides where I can work, how I can work, and what qualifies as journalism and what does not. Sooner or later, MIA employees themselves will understand why undermining the media is dangerous,” wrote Basti Mgaloblishvili.
Since November 28, 2024, according to publicly available information, around 36 media representatives have been fined while carrying out their professional duties. Most of these cases are still under review. So far, the courts have found two journalists guilty of administrative violations and imposed fines on them.
On June 5, 2025, the Communications Commission accepted for consideration the complaints filed by “Georgian Dream” against TV Pirveli, Formula, and Mtavari Arkhi, and will review them substantively on June 19.
On June 2, TV channels Formula and TV Pirveli released a statement revealing that “Georgian Dream” had filed complaints against them with the National Communications Commission.
According to Formula, a representative of “Georgian Dream” is accusing the channel of violating provisions of the broadcasting law that the ruling party adopted on April 1. The party submitted the complaint to the Commission on June 1 — the day the Commission was granted the authority to sanction broadcasters.
“The complaint seeks to censor terms that emphasize the illegitimacy and political bias of Georgian Dream’s parliament, officials, or institutions,” Formula’s statement says.
“Georgian Dream” is suing Formula over the use of phrases such as: “prisoners of the regime,” “regime’s court,” “illegitimate parliament,” “so-called parliament,” and others.
According to TV Pirveli, a 14-page complaint has been filed against them at the National Communications Commission, listing words and terms used by the media in various news segments.
The amendments to the “Broadcasting Law” were passed by “Georgian Dream” on April 1, 2025. Under the new rules, the regulatory body—the National Communications Commission—was granted significantly expanded powers, and all foreign funding of broadcasters was fully banned.
The Media Advocacy Coalition responded to the situation with a statement: “The repressive legislation recently initiated and adopted by Georgian Dream deliberately restricts freedom of expression and the public’s access to alternative opinions and information,” the statement reads.
On February 10, 2025, Tbilisi City Court found Mtavari Arkhi cameraman Sergi Baramidze guilty of an offense and issued him a verbal warning — despite the fact that he had been assaulted by law enforcement while performing his professional duties.
Baramidze was violently detained on November 19 of the previous year while on assignment. He was later released after signing a written statement.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Internal Affairs filed an administrative offense report against the cameraman. According to the report, on November 19, Baramidze allegedly disrupted public order, used profanity, shouted insults without clear direction, interfered with the lawful detention of another individual, and refused to stop his actions despite multiple warnings. He was charged under Article 166 (petty hooliganism) and Article 173, Part 1 (disobedience to a lawful police order) of the Administrative Offenses Code.
At the hearing on February 10, the judge dropped the case under Article 166 (petty hooliganism) but found Baramidze guilty under Article 173 (interference with police) and issued a verbal reprimand.
