Verbal insult

A “Publika” journalist was threatened and an attempt was made to physically assault him by a Tbilisi City Court bailiff, who also threatened to call the police

On October 1, 2025, Publika’s journalist, Mindia Gabadze, was threatened with police intervention and faced an attempted physical assault by a Court bailiffl. Gabadze was covering the court hearing of activist Gela Khasaia.

According to Gabadze, before the hearing began, the head of the court bailiff’ service, Davit Matiashvili, threatened him that if he tried to record, he would “call the police and take him into the next room.”

Gabadze says he did not film anything inside the court building. After the hearing ended, when the Court bailiff began forcibly removing attendees and journalists, Gabadze was leaving the building calmly and peacefully. Nevertheless, according to him, Davit Matiashvili made three attempts (twice inside the building and once in the yard) to physically assault him — by kicking and grabbing him by the hand.

“There were two other incidents when another, inexperienced bailiff grabbed me by the neck. Each time, I was frozen in shock, and my editor was pulling me away from the Court bailiffs. Activists were also helping me,” the journalist wrote.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics emphasized that recent amendments to the Organic Law on Common Courts of Georgia have severely restricted the media’s ability to cover court proceedings. According to the organization, the media lack even the most basic working conditions in the courts, and the environment has become extremely hostile and dangerous.

“Every time journalists perform their professional duties in court, their health and lives are at serious risk. While working in the courts, journalists also risk losing their freedom — even when they are merely trying to protect themselves or a colleague from violence. Such treatment of journalists bears all the signs of targeted persecution,” the organization’s statement reads.

The Media Advocacy Coalition added:

“The ‘Georgian Dream’ judiciary has become a place of injustice and violence. Violence and brutal incidents against journalists have become a regular part of their professional experience.”

Shalva Papuashvili Continues Attacks on Independent Outlet Netgazeti

On September 22, 2025, Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of Parliament from Georgian Dream, referred to the independent online outlet Netgazeti as propaganda media.

Shalva Papuashvili shared the statement against Netgazeti on his social media page. In his post, Papuashvili attached a screenshot of a Netgazeti article in which Mikheil Kavelashvili was referred to as “Georgian Dream’s president.”

“There is no test that would show that media covering news in this manner is not propaganda. There is no test that would show that whoever pays them is not financing propaganda…” Papuashvili wrote.

Recently, Shalva Papuashvili has often attacked Netgazeti with similar posts. He made a similar statement against Netgazeti on September 9. In the archive of the Center for Media, Information, and Social Studies, his verbal attacks can also be found against the outlets Publika, On.ge, and Tabula, as well as against Gela Mtivlishvili, editor of the outlet Mtis Ambebi. Papuashvili also tried to discredit Netgazeti/Batumelebi’s imprisoned manager, Mzia Amaghlobeli, referring to her as an “inciter of violence.”

“Georgian Dream’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate, Kakha Kaladze, called journalists ‘abusers’ and verbally insulted them

On September 21, 2025, Kakha Kaladze, the current mayor of Tbilisi and mayoral candidate from Georgian Dream, called journalists “abusers” and verbally insulted them.

“You are the first abusers, you are the ones who abuse and who try to… then you’re surprised when sometimes a microphone is hit against your head… then you wonder why.”

After this comment, a journalist asked Kaladze whether his statement was an encouragement of violence. The Georgian Dream mayoral candidate replied that he had not attempted to encourage violence and continued verbally insulting the journalists.

“This kind of politeness, generally, is taught in the family… It is clear and obvious what you represent, who you are, what you are, and that’s why you are so miserable, wretched, and degraded.”

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 police officer in Gori obstructed journalist Giorgi Akhalkatsi in the course of his journalistic work

On July 29, 2025, Gori police officer Ioseb Gagnidze aggressively confronted journalist Giorgi Akhalkatsi, who was attempting to film ongoing investigative actions in Gori, and obstructed his work.

“Journalists, meet Gori police officer Ioseb Gagnidze, who told us: ‘If you don’t have your badge hanging around your neck, you are not journalists to me. I will interfere with your filming, call you liars, and if necessary, I won’t hesitate to use force,’” the journalist wrote on social media.

According to Giorgi Akhalkatsi, the officer became aggressive after noticing that the investigative actions were being conducted with procedural violations: the area was not cordoned off with protective tape, no lawyer was called, searches were conducted without the presence of outsiders, anyone could move freely in the area, and so on.

The Minister of Education insulted journalists in response to a critical question

On July 17, 2025, Givi Mikanadze, Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of the ruling Georgian Dream party, called journalists “ridiculous” and “pathetic” in response to a question about his doctoral degree.

“You’re very ridiculous, really very ridiculous — so pathetic. What diploma are you even talking about? Doctoral candidate… you can find that in any of my CVs. You’re truly ridiculous. Do you even realize how pathetic you are?” Mikanadze said.

When Mikanadze was nominated as minister, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze introduced him as a PhD from the University of Amsterdam. It was later revealed, however, that Mikanadze had not actually obtained the degree. Journalists were attempting to verify this information.

The Minister of Education insulted journalists in response to a critical question

On July 17, 2025, the Minister of Education, Science, and Youth from “Georgian Dream,” Givi Mikanadze, called journalists “ridiculous” and “powerless” in response to a question regarding his doctoral degree.

“You are very ridiculous, really very ridiculous, so powerless. What diploma are you talking about? PhD candidate… you can read this in any of my CVs. You are very ridiculous. Do you know how powerless you are?” — Mikanadze stated.

When he was appointed minister, Georgian Dream’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, referred to him as a doctor from the University of Amsterdam. It later emerged that Mikanadze does not actually hold the degree. Journalists were attempting to verify this information.

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.”

The Prime Minister threatened to expel a journalist from the briefing for asking critical questions

On December 8, 2024, during a press conference at the Government Administration, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze used offensive language toward Telara Gelantia, a journalist and editor from “BMG,” for asking critical questions. He also threatened to expel her from the press conference.

Irakli Kobakhidze addressed Telara Gelantia with the following words: “I’ll expel you right now. Stop babbling, seriously. Don’t babble, or I’ll expel you if you keep it up.”