Pro-government/Propaganda television station “POSTV”
Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Verbal attack→Discrediting
The pro-government TV station POSTV continues to criticize independent media
On October 5, 2025, the propaganda television station POSTV, affiliated with the Georgian Dream, referred to the independent online media outlets Netgazeti, Publika, and Tabula, as well as TV Pirveli and Formula, as “propaganda media of the National Movement.” POSTV accused the aforementioned media outlets of concealing information about a police officer injured during a protest the previous day, October 4.
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.
Administrative body | An Individual | Public servant
Interference with professional duties | Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Attack on property→Damage to equipment
Interference→Prohibition on filming
Verbal attack→Discrediting, Verbal insult
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
Physical injury
Verbal attack→Verbal insult
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.
TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was injured twice during the October 4 rally
TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was injured twice while covering the October 4, 2025 rally. The first incident, as the TV company reports, occurred on Atoneli Street, near the President's Residence. Kokaia became incapacitated after the Special Tasks Department fired gas canisters. He required emergency medical assistance.
While covering the October 4, 2025 rally, according to information released by the Public Broadcaster, a protester allegedly threw an “unknown liquid” at the news program’s “Moambe” crew, resulting in injuries to journalist Shalva Sumbadze and cameraman Nika Tsirekidze.
Project 64 team loses control of drone during October 4 rally
Project 64 lost its drone camera during the October 4, 2025 rally. Project 64 founder and journalist Giorgi Gogua wrote on social media that the camera was filming near the parliament building when it suddenly started flying erratically and lost control.
MP of the Georgian Dream and Chairman of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, referred to TV Pirveli as “Khazaradze’s television”
On October 4, 2025, the day of the local self-government elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition and the public), the Chairman of the Georgian Dream Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, called some of the information disseminated by TV Pirveli from the polling stations “funny and curious” and referred to the TV company as “Khazaradze’s TV.”
Shalva Papuashvili Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia Targets Independent Publication Publika Again
On October 4, 2025, the day of local elections (which were boycotted by a large part of the pro-Western opposition and the public), the Chairman of the Georgian Dream Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, referred to the independent publication Publica as a “foreign-funded, propaganda” media outlet and accused it of a coordinated campaign of disinformation.
