“TV Pirveli” journalist Giorgi Mamniashvili was fined 3,000 GEL by a judge
“TV Pirveli” journalist Giorgi Mamniashvili, who was accused by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of minor hooliganism and disobeying a lawful police order, was fined 3,000 GEL by Judge Zviad Tsekvava.
Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Seizure or confiscation of equipment
“TV Pirveli” journalist had their mobile phone confiscated in court
In November, at the Zugdidi District Court, a “TV Pirveli” journalist had their mobile phone confiscated. According to the television company, the journalist was only allowed to attend the court hearing after the court’s security service sealed their phone. “As an alternative, they were only offered paper and a pen,” stated TV Pirveli.
The Penitentiary Service discredits “TV Pirveli” and “Formula”
On November 16, the Penitentiary Service released a public statement accusing the media outlets TV Pirveli and Formula of disseminating false information. The agency responded to stories circulated in the media, where prisoners spoke about the unbearable conditions in the prison, and their family members asked the Public Defender (Ombudsman) to start an urgent monitoring of the penitentiary system. They also demanded that the Ombudsman establish how many medical personnel serve the Gldani Prison and who is responsible for the spoiled food brought into the facility.
Persecution based on professional grounds | Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
InterferenceSuspension of accreditation
The Parliament suspended the accreditation of a journalist from the TV “Formula” for a period of one month
On November 12, Tiko Eradze released a video filmed in the Parliament's Plenary Hall, where she recorded "Georgian Dream" MP Eka Chichinadze listening to a video recording on her phone from the lodge designated for journalists. Shortly after the video was published, Tiko Eradze herself posted on Facebook, expressing her assumption that her accreditation would be suspended.
The Azerbaijani journalist, Afghan Sadygov, was sentenced to prison for the second time under the pretext of blocking a road
On November 12, 2025, Afghan Sadygov, an Azerbaijani journalist residing in Georgia, was sentenced to administrative imprisonment for the second time under the pretext of blocking a road—he will spend 7 days in prison. He is accused of blocking the road on October 19-21, 2025. Afghan Sadygov had already been imprisoned once on the same charge, having been sentenced to 14 days of administrative imprisonment. At that time, the exiled journalist was accused of blocking the road on October 18.
Media access and coverage were restricted at Mzia Amaghlobeli’s court trial
On November 11, 2025, the Kutaisi Court of Appeals began reviewing the appeal of Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prisoner and founder of the publications "Batumelebi" and "Netgazeti." Due to high public interest, her colleagues and supporters traveled to Kutaisi from various cities in Georgia to attend Mzia Amaghlobeli's court trial, but most of them could not enter the courtroom - the trial was held in a small, 24-person hall, and seats were quickly filled. Journalists who wished to cover the proceedings were also unable to attend. Furthermore, the court security locked the yard gate, restricting the entry of Mzia Amaghlobeli's colleagues and supporters even into the court yard.
Laws Restricting Media FreedomLegal incidentLegal persecution
The Anti-Corruption Bureau is requesting information about grants from the publication “Indigo”
On November 11, 2025, the publication "Indigo" released a statement from which it became clear that the Anti-Corruption Bureau had initiated proceedings against them based on the so-called Law on Grants adopted by "Georgian Dream." "Since our entire activity is based on open communication and only your trust, we want you to know this news as well. Obviously, we continue and serve the mission that created us—we continue working for free speech and expression, for free thoughts and ideas," the publication writes.
Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Interference
While covering a protest rally, “Formula” journalist Liza Tsitsishvili was arrested and soon released
On November 5, 2025, during a protest rally in Tbilisi, the police arrested "Formula" TV company journalist Liza Tsitsishvili. At the time of the arrest, the journalist was performing her professional duties—interviewing rally participants. Video footage recorded by journalists present at the scene shows the police forcibly putting Liza Tsitsishvili into a car. The voices of other journalists can be heard in the video—they tell the police that Liza Tsitsishvili is their colleague; the police reply, "We'll figure it out." Liza Tsitsishvili was released ten minutes after her arrest. She says they apologized to her.
Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Detention/ArrestLegal incident
“MediaChecker” journalist Ninia Kakabadze was arrested while covering a protest rally
On November 3, 2025, the police arrested Ninia Kakabadze, a journalist for the Media Platform "Media Checker" of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics. That day, the journalist was at the rally with a press identification badge; she was performing her professional duties. Ninia Kakabadze was arrested while returning home. She was taken to the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tbilisi. The journalist recounts that for a long time, she was not allowed to call her minor child. The journalist was released a few hours after the arrest. Ninia Kakabadze is accused of artificially blocking the road. The Tbilisi City Court started deliberation on her case on November 4, but postponed the hearing until November 12.
A member of the supervisory board of a state company and a relative of a businessman close to “Georgian Dream” threatened a “TV Pirveli” journalist once again
On November 2, 2025, Tea Gabadadze, a member of the supervisory board of the state corporation "Sakrusenergo" and a relative of a businessman close to "Georgian Dream," threatened journalist Vika Bukia, the host of "TV Pirveli's" author's program, with physical violence on social media. Gabadadze's threat followed a photo posted by Vika Bukia on social media with a sarcastic caption, featuring members of "Georgian Dream" and their supporters, including Gabadadze. "I will cut your fingers with secateurs," Gabadadze wrote to the journalist, and subsequently repeated the threat of physical violence against the journalist multiple times in the comments.
