Attack on property

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.

High-Ranking Police Official Locked “TV Pirveli” Journalist in Office and Seized Equipment

On July 12, 2025, TV company “TV Pirveli” aired a journalistic investigation that concerned police officers whom “Georgian Dream” allegedly uses against prisoners of conscience and the benefits these police officers receive in return. The story covered police officer Bidzina Zhamerashvili, whose father, according to the investigation, had been arrested on theft charges.

To verify the facts, the journalist went to the Asureti division of the Tetritskaro district administration and asked for a comment from the division head, Koba Sutiashvili. The story shows that the division head expelled the camera operator from the office and locked journalist Tamta Dolenjashvili in the office, then tried to seize her mobile phone and microphone. According to Tamta Dolenjashvili’s statement: “He expelled my operator, Papuna Khachidze, from the office, locked me inside, took away my mobile phone and was trying to seize the microphone as well. Later he also expelled Papuna from the building.”

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.”

Vehicle Belonging to “Mtis Ambebi” Intentionally Damaged

On February 4, 2025, Gela Mtivlishvili, founder and editor of the outlet Mtis Ambebi, published a Facebook post revealing that a vehicle belonging to the newsroom was deliberately damaged.

According to Mtivlishvili, the same individual who damaged the car later came to his residence and knocked on his door. He also shared a photo on social media as evidence of the incident.

“In the morning, the company vehicle was damaged. CCTV footage shows a person deliberately throwing a stone at the windshield three times to break it. We’ve already reported it to 112. The thing is, this person lives in the same building and has access to the security system and the entrance codes. I’ve never done anything but good for him, which is why it’s clear to me that someone told him to do this,” the journalist wrote.

Gela Mtivlishvili has previously been the target of both verbal and physical attacks by members of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the police.

Founder and Editor of “Adjara Times” Obstructed While Reporting, Equipment Targeted

On February 16, 2025, in the “Dream Town” neighborhood of Batumi, Sulkhan Meskhiadze, founder and editor of Adjara Times, was obstructed while carrying out his professional duties.

An aggressive individual attempted to damage Meskhiadze’s equipment and knocked the microphone out of his hand. The incident was broadcast live, and footage shows that members of Batumi’s City Council were present but left the scene without responding.

The incident followed a tragic event the day before, on February 15, when two young children died in the same area. Sulkhan Meskhiadze was reporting on the tragedy when, allegedly, individuals connected to the ruling party Georgian Dreaminterfered with his work.

Crew of “TV Pirveli” Attacked and Equipment Seized

On May 12, 2025, in Kvemo Kartli, a journalist and a cameraman from TV Pirveli, who were investigating the resignation of former Deputy Governor Giorgi Shinjikashvili, were physically attacked by the former official’s father.

According to the journalist, Mariam Makasarashvili, Shinjikashvili’s father slapped her in the face and physically attacked the channel’s cameraman as well. At the same time, he seized the TV station’s camera and the journalist’s personal mobile phone, which were returned only after 40 minutes. As a result of the attack, the journalist suffered a concussion and required medical assistance.

The crew immediately called the police. According to the broadcaster, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrived an hour and 20 minutes later. The Special Investigative Service has launched an investigation into the incident.

According to the Media Advocacy Coalition, the incident “once again clearly highlights the critical state of media freedom and safety in the country.”

At a peaceful protest near Tbilisi Mall 11 journalists were unlawfully prevented from doing their jobs

On February 2, at a peaceful protest near Tbilisi Mall 11 journalists were unlawfully prevented from doing their jobs.

TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was injured while filming the arrest of a protester by the police. As a result, he had to be hospitalized. Medical examinations confirmed that he suffered a concussion due to the injuries sustained at the protest.
A video published by media outlet “April” shows a police officer pushing their journalist, Nata Uridia, and obstructing her work. In the footage, Nata Uridia can be heard identifying herself as a journalist while addressing a masked police officer.
During the arrest of protesters, police also interfered with another “April” journalist, Vakho Kareli, demanding that both him and Nata Uridia leave the area. In the same incident, an officer was seen pushing Uridia.
Radio Free Liberty’s journalist Gela Bochkashvili was threatened by a police officer. A video published by the media captures a masked officer telling him, “Move that camera away, or I’ll break your head.”
TV Mtavari Arkhi’s journalist Dea Mamiseishvili released a video showing a police officer verbally and physically assaulting her.
Radio Marneuli journalist Vladimir Chkhitunidze was filming the arrest of an opposition politician when he was stopped by Special Tasks Department (STD) officers, who forcibly moved him onto the sidewalk.
TV Pirveli’s camera crew was verbally and physically assaulted by police officers. According to the channel, their broadcasting equipment was also damaged.
TV Pirveli also reported that their journalist, Khatia Samkharadze, was attacked by Mirza Kezevadze, the deputy head of the Special Tasks Department. According to media reports, Kezevadze seized and damaged the journalist’s phone.
Members of the Special Tasks Department also attempted to take a microphone from Formula TV journalist Giorgi Kvijinadze, obstructing his work, when he was on air.
A masked police officer interfered with Guria News’ journalists while they were covering the protest. A video shows the officer pushing away the camera.
The police obstructed MediaChecker journalist Ninia Kakabadze from doing her job. A police officer also pushed her.

Media Advocacy Coalition and the Charter of Journalistic Ethics have responded to the injuries sustained by media representatives while covering the peaceful protest near “Tbilisi Mall.” The organizations are calling on international bodies to “properly assess the dangerous actions and systemic violence by law enforcement officers who have acted beyond the framework of the Constitution and the law.“

On November 29-30, During the coverage of the protests 9 members of the media were detained, injured, or obstructed in their professional work

On November 30, TV Pirveli journalist Mariam Gafrindashvili was seriously injured. According to reports, she lost consciousness several times. The video footage released by the station, shows her bleeding from the forehead before being taken to a medical facility.
On November 30, TV Pirveli cameraman Papuna Khachidze was physically injured during the protest.
On the same day, the riot police attacked Ana Mskhaladze, a journalist from the online outlet Publika, while she was performing her professional duties. The officer also took her phone. Mskhaladze explained that she was recording the detention of citizens when the officer knocked the phone out of her hand. When she identified herself as a journalist and bent down to retrieve it, she was struck in the head. The officer then took the phone and disappeared. Her phone is still missing.
During the protest near the Parliament building on November 30, special forces attacked RealPolitika journalist Aka Zarqua. ‘About ten special forces officers surrounded and beat me until they got tired. I won’t even mention the verbal abuse. At one point, their commander arrived and tried to shove my press badge into my mouth. Fortunately, they didn’t manage to seize my phone, and the live stream remains on RealPolitika’s page. The video captures one instance of the physical assault, though my phone was in my pocket during the second, so it wasn’t recorded. They also confiscated my respirator. Thankfully, I was wearing a helmet,’ Zarqua wrote.
Photographer Giorgi Gamgebeli was also physically assaulted on November 30. He was hospitalized, and his equipment was confiscated and destroyed. ‘They broke my leg, beat me, ripped the camera from me, and took it away. People barely managed to drag me to an ambulance,’ the photographer reported.
On November 30, Formula TV reported that special forces attacked a journalist Nutsa Bakhutashvili and her cameraman Irakli Bartava. According to the network, Bakhutashvili sustained a concussion.
The cameramen of Georgian Public Broadcaster First Channel Davit Bejanishvili was injured during the protest on November 30.
According to Paper Kartuli, on November 30, a masked man, presumably a law enforcement officer, struck journalist Fyodor Khudokormov with his hand.