Informing the public about court proceedings is becoming increasingly difficult for the media
During the hearing on December 17 of the so-called “October 4 case,” involving 13 detained individuals, Tbilisi City Court Judge Tamar Makharoblidze stated in court, in response to television journalists’ request to briefly leave the courtroom for a live broadcast, that if the journalists left, they would not be allowed to return. According to her explanation, media representatives could cover the trial only after its conclusion. All 13 individuals are charged with group violence and attempting to seize or block a strategic facility—the President’s Palace.
Mzia Amaglobeli’s court hearing was moved by the judge to a small courtroom
On July 14, 2025, the court hearing of journalist Mazia Amaglobeli, who is being held in unlawful detention, was moved to a small courtroom by Judge Nino Sakhelashvili. According to the online media outlet Batumelebi, the judge made this decision after stating that shouts could be heard from the street in the courtroom — “Freedom for Mazia! Freedom for political prisoners!”
Pro-government/Propaganda television station “Imedi”
Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
DiscreditingVerbal attack
“Imedi Weekly” segment against BBC’s investigation and independent media
On December 14, 2025, a segment aired on the TV program Imedi Weekly on the television company Imedi, accusing independent Georgian media and non-governmental organizations of advancing foreign countries’ interests and engaging in so-called “hybrid warfare.”
Repressive legislative amendments restricting the freedom of assembly
On December 12, 2025, “Georgian Dream” adopted another repressive legislative amendment restricting the freedom of assembly, which was considered under an expedited procedure within three days. Since December 2024, “Georgian Dream” has amended the legislation regulating assemblies and demonstrations five times. Each time, the amendments have become increasingly repressive, aiming both to punish demonstrators and to intimidate them preventively.
A defamation case against the television company TV Pirveli and a journalist
On December 9, 2025, the Tbilisi Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Tbilisi City Court in the defamation case brought by former Minister of Internal Affairs of “Georgian Dream,” Aleksandre Chikaidze, against the television company TV Pirveli and journalist Sopho Niauri. The dispute concerns a report aired on TV Pirveli in the program “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday,” in which Chikaidze was accused of having links to so-called call centers. The Court of Appeal ordered the television company and the journalist to issue a retraction of the information disseminated about Aleksandre Chikaidze and to pay moral damages in the amount of 10,000 lari.
Interference with professional duties | Interference with professional duties
Incident Type:
Denial of entry in an administrative buildingInterferenceInterference
Yellow Security Level in Parliament – Online Media Are Not Allowed in the Building
On November 26, the "yellow level" of security came into effect in the building of the Parliament of Georgia, which fully restricts online media from working in the Parliament. The restriction is linked to the speech of the "Georgian Dream" Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze.
Pro-government/Propaganda television station “Imedi”
Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Discrediting
Pro-government “Imedi” is attempting to discredit independent online media outlets
“Due to the segment prepared by ‘Imedi’ television, where Russian disinformation narratives and obvious lies deliberately fabricated by local propagandists are intertwined, we are submitting a joint statement to the self-regulatory body and demand a denial of the false information aired in the segment. We also demand live airtime to give us the opportunity to respond to these absurd accusations.”
Shalva Papuashvili is trying to discredit and intimidate “Sinatle Media”
The Speaker of Parliament from "Georgian Dream", Shalva Papuashvili, responded to a report aired on the pro-government TV channel Imedi targeting the association of independent online media outlets, Light Media, attempting to discredit and intimidate them.
The Prime Minister of “Georgian Dream,” Irakli Kobakhidze, is attempting to discredit and intimidate independent online media outlets
On November 24, the Prime Minister of Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that “associations funded from foreign countries are acting against the development of our country.”
The Parliament revoked the accreditation of a journalist from the TV “Formula”
On November 24, the Parliament suspended the accreditation of Dea Badzagua, a journalist for the investigative program “Shabatis Formula” of the TV “Formula,” for one month. The suspension of accreditation was requested by the “Georgian Dream” MP Maia Bitadze.
