Physical violence

Photographer Levan Zazadze Physically Assaulted by Unidentified Individual

On the evening of June 6, photographer Levan Zazadze, who was covering the “Saturday March,” was attacked by an unidentified individual near the Philharmonic.

The assailant first subjected him to verbal abuse before physically striking him, causing injuries to his face. The attacker was carrying a “Glovo” delivery bag and traveling on a scooter. He was eventually escorted from the scene by the police; however, eyewitnesses reported that the law enforcement’s response was delayed.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has launched an investigation into the incident under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to violence. Despite this, it remains unknown whether the attacker has been formally arrested. Shortly after the incident, photos circulated in the media showing the assailant standing with police officers without handcuffs.The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has called on the MIA to punish these attacker in accordance with the law and to make a concerted effort to ensure a safe working environment for media professionals.

“The police’s indifferent attitude toward such crimes encourages violence aggressive individuals perceive journalists as easy targets,” the Charter noted in its statement.

Journalists from “Adjara Times” and “Batumelebi” Obstructed from Performing Their Duties in Khelvachauri

On May 7, in Khelvachauri, Sulkhan Meskhidze, the founder of Adjara Times, and Lela Dumbadze, a journalist for Batumelebi, were obstructed from performing their professional duties, allegedly by public officials. The individuals verbally abused the journalists. According to the journalists, there were also threats and attempts at physical retaliation.

The journalists were covering a meeting between the parents of prisoners of conscience and local residents.

According to Batumelebi, among the aggressive individuals was Jumber (Genadi) Diasamidze, the deputy director of the Khelvachauri Municipality Sanitation and Utility Service, who is the cousin of Khelvachauri Mayor Zaza Diasamidze.

“The Charter of Journalistic Ethics calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to immediately investigate the obstruction of journalists Sulkhan Meskhidze and Lela Dumbadze while performing their professional duties in Khelvachauri,” reads the statement released by the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics.

Editor of “Mtis Ambebi” Assaulted

Gela Mtivlishvili, journalist and editor of Mtis Ambebi, states that on May 9, he was assaulted by Giorgi Margebadze, the head of the Small and Medium Hydro Power Plants Association.

“Right after coming off the air, I was assaulted by Margebadze, a hydro-power lobbyist and a thug-like element of ‘Georgian Dream.’ My face is injured. I have gone to the police. He will be held accountable,” Gela Mtivlishvili wrote on social media.

The incident occurred immediately after the conclusion of the show Open Space, where Giorgi Margebadze had been invited as a guest to discuss issues related to hydro power plants. The show is hosted by Nino Zautashvili. Nato Chipashvili, a representative of Green Alternative, was also a guest on the program.

Following Mtivlishvili’s report, the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched an investigation under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to violence.

The Media Advocacy Coalition has expressed solidarity with the journalist.

“This is not the first time Gela Mtivlishvili has been targeted by threats, pressure, and violence. Over the years, numerous aggressive campaigns have been waged against him, including by high-ranking officials from ‘Georgian Dream.’ Impunity and a merely formal justice system not only fail to protect journalists and effectively investigate violence, but on the contrary, they encourage such crimes and create an even more dangerous environment for media representatives,” the statement reads.

“Moambe” camera crew injured at October 4 rally

While covering the October 4, 2025 rally, according to information released by the Public Broadcaster, a protester allegedly threw an “unknown liquid” at the news program’s “Moambe” crew, resulting in injuries to journalist Shalva Sumbadze and cameraman Nika Tsirekidze.

TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was injured twice during the October 4 rally

TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was injured twice while covering the October 4, 2025 rally. The first incident, as the TV company reports, occurred on Atoneli Street, near the President’s Residence. Kokaia became incapacitated after the Special Tasks Department fired gas canisters. He required emergency medical assistance.

The second incident occurred on Orbeliani Square. According to the TV company, the cameraman was allegedly hit in the leg by a gas canister.

Police Physically and Verbally Assault Radio Liberty Journalist Giorgi Diasamidze

On October 4, 2025, while covering a protest rally in Tbilisi, Radio Liberty journalist Giorgi Diasamidze was physically and verbally assaulted by police.

In a video released by the outlet, Diasamidze can be heard telling a law enforcement officer that he is a journalist and asking why his work is being obstructed. Despite showing his press credentials, he was still targeted and attacked by the officer.

A gas capsule was reportedly fired at a TV Pirveli film crew

A tear gas capsule was allegedly fired at the TV Pirveli camera crew, journalist Irakli Bakhtadze, and his cameraman. The incident occurred while they were broadcasting live from the Presidential Palace on Orbeliani Square.

In the video footage released by the TV company, the sound of tear gas being fired and capsule exploding capsule can be heard in the area where the TV Pirveli camera crew was working. According to the Charter of Journalistic Ethics, the capsule hit the journalist’s helmet. At that time, the protesters had already left the surrounding area. There was no prior warning before the shots were fired. The journalist and cameraman were not injured.

Six journalists injured near Tbilisi mayoral candidate, Kakha Kaladze’s, campaign headquarters

On September 8, 2025, while covering a rally outside the election headquarters of Georgian Dream’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate, Kakha Kaladze, party supporters and law enforcement officers assaulted journalists, verbally abused them, and confiscated mobile phones. One journalist required medical treatment.

According to the online outlet Publika two reporters, Aleksandre Keshelashvili and Keto Mikadze, were physically assaulted by Georgian Dream supporters while on assignment, and their mobile phones were seized. With the help of a Netgazeti journalist, they recovered only one device Keshelashvili’s phone [timecode: 1:14–1:20]. The outlet reports that it has video evidence showing who took the other phone and has called on that individual to return it, and on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to respond to the theft of editorial equipment and interference in journalistic work.

According to online Netgazeti, a police officer swore at its reporter Ketevan Khutsishvili, physically grabbed and dragged her, and interfered with her work while she was broadcasting live and filming the confrontation outside the headquarters, including the attack on the colleague – Aleksandre Keshelashvili. “They used rude and vulgar gestures to swear. Then a policeman came up to me, saying, ‘Don’t provoke me,’ grabbed me by the arms and dragged me. Then a second and a third came, and one of the policemen cursed me. After that, a man in a blue shirt came and also cursed me. Finally, they dragged me and threw me among the policemen, and one of them even grabbed my hand,” Khutsishvili says. [Video material, timecode: 0:30–2:32]

A Georgian Dream supporter poured a bottle of water over Mariam Nikuradze, OC Media’s founder and photojournalist, as she filmed police clearing protesters. “At that moment, one of the Georgian Dream supporters approached me and poured a whole bottle of water on my head in the presence of the police. The police didn’t say anything to him, I pushed him aside,” Nikuradze told MediaChecker.

An investigative journalist with Studio Monitor, Keti Tutberidze was also poured a bottle of water while she was performing her professional duties.

Hungarian journalist László Róbert Mézes suffered serious physical injuries after being assaulted by Georgian Dream supporters, who also attempted to seize his phone. He required medical attention.

The Media Advocacy Coalition condemned the incidents, stating that “attacks on independent media and impunity for perpetrators are part of Georgian Dream’s consistent policy,” and expressed solidarity with journalists “forced to perform their professional duties under a violent regime.”

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics “strongly condemns” the violence against journalists “against the backdrop of the criminal inaction and indifference of the police,” calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs for an immediate response and on the Prosecutor’s Office to conduct an effective investigation.

Members of “Georgian Dream” and the police verbally and physically harassed journalists from “Publika”

On September 3, 2025, Beka Odisharia, a member of “Georgian Dream,” former MP, and candidate for Tbilisi City Council, verbally insulted “Publika” journalist Mindia Gabazde. Other members and supporters of “Georgian Dream” verbally and physically harassed and spat on the publication’s editor, Lika Zakashvili. The police, instead of protecting Zakashvili, interfered with her work by forcing her to stop filming through physical restraint.

The incidents occurred during the opening of the election campaign headquarters of “Georgian Dream” Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze. The event took place against the backdrop of a protest, and journalists were attempting to cover the events.

Video footage recorded by “Publika” shows Beka Odisharia speaking insultingly to Mindia Gabazde after the journalist asked him a question. In the same episode, Odisharia also verbally abuses protest participants and other journalists present.

Lika Zakashvili became a target of “Georgian Dream” supporters when she tried to film their insulting actions toward activists. One person struck her and tried to take her mobile phone, then another approached from behind and spat on her. The footage shows that law enforcement did not intervene. On the contrary, in a subsequent clip, a police officer physically tried to stop Zakashvili from filming.

According to the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, “Impunity for crimes against journalists encourages perpetrators and drives them to commit more offenses.” The Charter calls on “Georgian Dream” to put an end to such practices, take responsibility, and ensure a safe working environment for journalists.

The Media Advocacy Coalition emphasized that this is not the first instance of violence against journalists by “Georgian Dream” supporters. “Under Bidzina Ivanishvili’s governance, we see systemic violence against independent media. Repressive legislation has been enacted against independent media. All of these incidents are part of a coordinated strategy aimed at suppressing independent media and critical voices in the country,” the coalition said.

UPDATE: Based on a complaint filed with the prosecutor’s office, on September 11, 2025, “Publika” editor-in-chief Lika Zakashvili was questioned. The prosecutor’s office opened a case based on Zakashvili’s statement.

A high-ranking police officer locked a ‘TV Pirveli’ journalist in his office and confiscated their equipment

On July 12, 2025, a journalistic investigation aired on the television channel “TV Pirveli”, concerning police officers whom “Georgian Dream” allegedly uses against prisoners of conscience, and the benefits these police officers receive in return. The report covered police officer Bidzina Zhamerashvili, whose father, according to the investigation, had been detained for theft.

To verify the facts, the journalist went to the Asureti Division of the Tetri-Tskaro District Police Department and requested a comment from the head of the division, Koba Sutiashvili. The report shows that the division head expelled the cameraman from the office, while journalist Tamta Dolenjashvili was locked inside the office, after which an attempt was made to confiscate her mobile phone and microphone.

According to Tamta Dolenjashvili:
“My cameraman, Papuna Khachidze, was thrown out of the office, while I was locked inside. My mobile phone was taken from me, and there was an attempt to take the microphone as well. Later, Papuna was also expelled from the building.”