Verbal attack

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.

An “Achara Times” journalist became the target of aggression while performing their professional duties

According to Achara Times, Sulkhan Meskhidze, the founder and journalist of the online publication, became the target of aggression while covering the election for the head of the Adjara branch of the Union of the Blind.

The publication reports that the incident occurred in the courtyard during the coverage of the election process. While he was performing his journalistic duties, an attempt was made to snatch and smash Meskhidze’s phone. According to the outlet, police officers present at the scene witnessed the aggression and the attempt to confiscate the journalist’s phone, but they failed to react.

Achara Times stated that they were unable to capture complete video footage of the incident, as the recording stopped during the struggle to prevent the mobile phone from being damaged. The publication further noted that representatives of the Union of the Blind also refused to allow journalists to enter the voting area to film the proceedings.

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.

Sanctioned for Spreading Russian Disinformation Regarding the Full-Scale War in Ukraine, TV Imedi Attempts to Discredit Guram Rogava

On May 10, 2026, the television network Imedi, which has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom for spreading disinformation, published a discrediting post against journalist Guram Rogava. TV Imedi refers to Guram Rogava as a “propagandist for the National Movement.”

On November 29, 2024, while performing his professional duties and covering pro-European protests, a riot police officer assaulted Guram Rogava, striking him forcefully on the back of the head.

“TV Pirveli” views statements from the Prosecutor’s Office and “Georgian Dream” MPs as an attempt to pressure the investigative journalists of “Shabatis Eteri”

A report aired on April 25 by “TV Pirveli’s” investigative program, “Shabatis Eteri” (Saturday Broadcast), was followed by a series of statements directed against the television company. The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia accuses the station of spreading disinformation.

Specifically, the program “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday” prepared an investigative report regarding Bezhan Bezhuashvili, the father of Tamar Bezhuashvili, a prosecutor involved in high-profile cases. Tamar Bezhuashvili is leading the cases of Paata Burchuladze, Irakli Nadiradze, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze. According to the journalistic investigation, the prosecutor’s father defrauded business partners, thereby seizing their shares, funds, and real estate. The report also discusses the prosecutor’s alleged influence, which may be the reason for the delay in the legal proceedings initiated against Bezhan Bezhuashvili.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia released a statement regarding this matter, calling the “TV Pirveli” material “yet another disinformation report.” According to the agency, the television company “is deliberately preparing a report for the second time regarding the business activities of the prosecutor’s father and is completely unjustifiably linking them to Tamar Bezhuashvili’s professional activities.”

“The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia will not allow such attacks on the prosecutors of high-profile criminal cases, which aim to discredit the prosecutor and the agency, and will respond accordingly,” the statement reads.

Journalist Nodar Meladze also responded to the incident, noting that the attack on the “Shabatis Eteri” team is intended to pressure journalists:

“We, the investigative project ‘Shabatis Eteri’ of ‘TV Pirveli,’ consider the orchestrated attacks on our team as pressure on journalists. The goal of these actions is to force media representatives to cease their professional activities and refuse to prepare investigative reports. For the second day now, a series of attacks by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and ‘Georgian Dream’ MPs has been underway against the investigative journalists of the ‘Shabatis Eteri’ program.””TV Pirveli” views statements from the Prosecutor’s Office and “Georgian Dream” MPs as an attempt to pressure the investigative journalists of “Shabatis Eteri”

UK-Sanctioned Imedi TV Accuses Critical Outlet TV Pirveli of Manipulation

On April 24, TV Imedi a broadcaster sanctioned by the United Kingdom for spreading Russian disinformation published a social media post accusing the critical news outlet TV Pirveli of manipulation. The post concerns a report by TV Pirveli claiming that 60% of those granted Georgian citizenship in 2025 were Russian citizens.

TV Imedi writes that “beyond the statistical figure intended to mislead the public, the opposition media says nothing about the fact that restoration, retention, or the granting of citizenship by way of exception can be requested by former Georgian citizens or citizens who have either already lost or have not yet lost their Georgian citizenship after acquiring the citizenship of another country.”

The post features a photo of Nodar Meladze, the head of TV Pirveli’s news service, with the word “Manipulation” stamped across it in red. TV Imedi frequently publishes posts targeting the critical broadcaster TV Pirveli and its news director, Nodar Meladze.

Journalist Davit Chabashvili Receives Death Threats

According to TV Formula, journalist Davit Chabashvili is being threatened with death. Media reports indicate that the journalist has been receiving threatening messages from an individual identified as Gia Kikolashvili-Chanturia. Reportedly, the person behind the threats is also aware of the journalist’s home address.

“For what you say, for your work, and for what you write, you will be beheaded,” reads one of the threatening messages.

Davit Chabashvili links the incident to his professional activities. He stated that the threatening messages and phone calls have been ongoing for about a week. According to Formula, an investigation has been launched under Article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (Threat), and the journalist has already been questioned.

The Charter of Journalistic Ethics responded to the incident, calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to ensure the journalist’s safety and to investigate the matter promptly. The Charter stated that such attacks on journalists are fueled by aggressive rhetoric from high-ranking officials toward independent media. It called on officials to realize the consequences of using hate speech and to change their approach accordingly.

Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Attacks and Threatens Independent Online Media Outlets Again

On April 2, 2026, during a briefing held in Parliament, the Speaker of the Parliament from “Georgian Dream,” Shalva Papuashvili, referred to online outlets Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Tabula, Publika, and Netgazeti as “foreign-funded party propaganda groups.” He accused them of interfering in the activities of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Patriarchate and threatened them with “consequences.”

“We see that, for example, foreign-funded party propaganda groups like Radio Liberty and Tabula are directly interfering in the activities of the Synod. They have launched direct campaigns against specific clerics; Radio Liberty, Tabula, and other online outlets such as Publika, Netgazeti, etc., are conducting direct election campaigns for or against various clergy members. We are monitoring all of this, and there will be an appropriate reaction,” Papuashvili stated.

His statement followed media coverage and public interest regarding the election of a new Patriarch after the passing of Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics reminds Papuashvili that the role and duty of the media is to cover all significant issues unfolding in the country.

“The election of a new Patriarch is among such issues, and the Georgian media is currently doing exactly what it should be doing—investigating information and gathering comments on this matter to share with its audience,” the Charter’s statement reads. The Charter calls on high-ranking officials to stop the harassment and intimidation of media outlets and journalists aimed at suppressing critical voices, and to allow the media to contribute fully to the formation of public discourse.

“Mtis Ambebi” Film Crew Obstructed and Threatened with Death

The film crew of the online publication Mtis Ambebi was unlawfully obstructed while working in the village of Tskere, in the Khada Gorge. Under threats of violence and death, the journalists were forced to stop filming and leave the village.

The incident occurred on April 1. The crew traveled to the gorge after reports emerged that a landslide, caused by the construction of the Kvesheti-Kobi road, had swept away several local graves.

The crew was on-site to document the unfolding events in the village. The journalists arrived just as the relocation of a young man’s body from the collapsed cemetery was about to begin. However, they were prevented from moving freely. According to the publication, representatives of a Chinese company, along with supervisors and employees of the Roads Department, insistently demanded that they stop filming. On the orders of their manager, the company’s hired workers physically obstructed the crew, prevented them from operating a drone, and threatened to smash their equipment.

According to Mtis Ambebi, the Shida Kartli Regional Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the attack and the unlawful interference with the journalists’ professional activities under Article 154, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. This article pertains to the unlawful interference with a journalist’s professional duties through threats of violence or abuse of official position. The crime is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics expressed deep concern over the incident. In a statement, they noted that the attack bears clear signs of a criminal offense. The Charter calls on the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the case quickly and effectively, and urges the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure a safe working environment for journalists.

Facebook Page Affiliated with “Georgian Dream” Discredits Independent Journalists

A Facebook page titled “Media,” which is affiliated with the “Georgian Dream” party, is actively discrediting independent journalists. On April 1, the page published a poster featuring journalists from TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi, and Formula, accompanied by the caption: “Happy Professional Day—April 1st.” (In Georgian society, April 1st is associated with lying and is considered April Fools’ Day).

The “Media” page was created on December 25, 2024. Its original name was “Borotmokmedia” (a play on words meaning “Evildoer”), but on September 9, 2025, it was renamed “Media.” The page is primarily engaged in discrediting independent journalists, the opposition, and the family members of prisoners of conscience. According to the fact-checking platform “Myth Detector,” this page is linked to “Georgian Dream” and operates in coordination with media outlets that follow a pro-government editorial policy (such as POSTV and Imedi).