Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds | Interference with professional duties
Incident Type:
MIA statement threatens freedom of assembly and expression
On October 5, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the October 4 gathering “aimed at overthrowing the government” and “soon acquired an unlawful character,” after which the ministry took “proportionate measures.” According to the agency, “based on yesterday’s events,” any gathering from October 5 will be considered a “continuation of an attempted overthrow” and the ministry will take appropriate measures “to protect public order and security.” In effect, this means that peaceful protesters may face legal prosecution simply for participating in the gathering. The statement came after the arrest of five organizers of the October 4 rally and a few hours before the announcement of a new rally by citizens and the Federalist Party.
“Georgian Dream” Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze called journalists ill-mannered
On October 4, 2025, the day of the local self-government elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition), while at a polling station, Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze called journalists ill-mannered
Administrative body | An Individual | Public servant | An Individual
Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds | Interference with professional duties
Incident Type:
Attack on property→Damage to equipment | Damage to equipment · Interference→Prohibition on filming · Verbal attack→Verbal insult | Discrediting
Multiple cases of obstruction, threats, and physical confrontations against journalists during the October 4 elections
On October 4, 2025, during the local government elections (which the opposition and a large part of society consider illegitimate), numerous cases of obstruction of work, threats, and verbal and physical abuse against media representatives were recorded.
Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds | Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Attack on property→Damage to equipment · Interference→Prohibition on filming · Verbal attack→Verbal insult · Physical injury
Incidents of Interference, Violence, and Damage to Media Equipment During the October 4 Rally
On October 4, 2025, a large-scale protest rally in Tbilisi witnessed numerous cases of verbal and physical attacks on media representatives, obstruction of their work, and damage to equipment. For the first time during this rally, some online media outlets were unable to operate their Drone cameras, likely due to an artificial disruption.
Georgian Dream President Mikheil Kavelashvili Calls TV Pirveli a Disinformation Outlet
On October 4, 2025, the day of the local self-government elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition), while at a polling station, Georgian Dream President Mikheil Kavelashvili called TV Pirveli journalist Ina Tsartsidze a “liar” and a representative of a “lying television.”
Former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili Calls Journalists Disinformers
On October 4, 2025, on the day of local elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition), former Prime Minister of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Gharibashvili, who was at the polling station, called journalists from TV Pirveli and Formula “scoundrels” and “main fakers” at the 11th polling station in Tbilisi.
Journalist from Samkhretis Karibche banned from filming at Akhaltsikhe polling station No. 6
On October 4, 2025, on the day of local elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition), the chairman of the polling station commission at Akhaltsikhe polling station No. 6 restricted journalist Nuka Stepnadze from filming at the polling station.
A Georgian Dream agitator verbally insulted a journalist from TV Pirveli
On October 4, 2025, on the day of the local government elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition), agitators from the Georgian Dream, Nato Gogelia, verbally confronted a journalist from TV Pirveli at one of the polling stations in Batumi. They first tried to prevent him from filming by covering his camera with their hands, and then cursed at the journalist.
Police Prevented Studio Monitor Journalist from Filming
On October 4, 2025, during a large-scale protest in Tbilisi, two criminal police officers attempted to interfere with Studio Monitor journalist Keti Tutberidze’s work and seize her phone.
