Safety of journalists in Georgia

Incidents

  • 24.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Court
  • Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Legal incident→Legal persecution

Court Dismisses Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Lawsuit Against Irakli Kobakhidze

On April 24, Tbilisi City Court Judge Liana Kazhashvili dismissed the case filed by Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of Batumelebi/Netgazeti, against Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Amaghlobeli, who is currently in custody, alleged that Kobakhidze’s televised statements constituted defamation, violated the presumption of innocence, and damaged her honor and dignity.
  • 20.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Court
  • Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Labour rights→Restriction of labor rights
Legal incident→Legal persecution

The judge did not uphold the complaint filed by the employees of ‘Real Space,’ a program canceled by the Georgian Public Broadcaster

On April 20, Judge Liana Kazhashvili announced a decision in which the court denied the complaint filed by former employees of "Real Space."
  • 18.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Court
  • Interference with professional duties
Incident Type:
Interference

Attempt to Restrict Artist’s Work During Proceedings at Tbilisi City Court

Given the ban on photography, video, and audio recording in courtrooms, sketches produced by artists remain one of the few ways to visually document legal proceedings. Despite this, during the March 18 hearing for Anton Chechin, Sergei Kukharchuk, and Artyom Gribul, Judge Nato Khujadze attempted to restrict an artist’s work, directing that "faces should not be flaunted." After defense lawyers clarified that sketching is not prohibited—a point the prosecutor also conceded—the artist was allowed to continue working, though with the restriction that faces not be depicted.
  • 16.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Pro-government/Propaganda television station “Imedi”
  • Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Verbal attack→Discrediting

“TV Pirveli” Exposes Pro-Government “Imedi” for Spreading Disinformation

"TV Pirveli" states that on April 16, during the news program "Qronika," the TV company "Imedi" disseminated false information regarding TV Pirveli.
  • 15.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Administrative body | Court
  • Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Legal incident→Fines, Freezing of accounts

Journalists’ Accounts Frozen Without Prior Notice of Fines

On April 15, according to TV Pirveli, the bank accounts of Maka Chikhladze, a journalist for the channel's Saturday broadcast, were frozen. On social media, Irakli Datunashvili (known online as Leo Nafta), the Georgia editor for the online publication JamNews, also wrote that his bank accounts had been frozen. According to his information, the basis for the freeze is cited as a fine from October 15, the existence of which he had not been informed of until now.
  • 15.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Court
  • Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Labour rights
Legal incident→Legal persecution

Tbilisi City Court Rules Against Ousted Public Broadcaster Journalist Nino Zautashvili

Tbilisi City Court Judge Ekaterine Eliadze has dismissed the lawsuit filed against the Public Broadcaster by Nino Zautashvili, a journalist and presenter who was fired from the channel.
  • 15.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Court
  • Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Labour rights→Restriction of labor rights
Legal incident→Legal persecution

Tbilisi City Court Dismisses Lawsuit of Dismissed Public Broadcaster Journalist Nino Zautashvili

Tbilisi City Court Judge Ekaterine Eliadze dismissed the lawsuit filed by Nino Zautashvili, a dismissed journalist and host, against the Public Broadcaster.
  • 11.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Unidentified
  • Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Verbal attack→Death threat

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.
  • 08.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Administrative body | Communications Commission
  • Persecution for expressing critical position
Incident Type:
Application of a media-restricting law

Communications Commission Issues Written Warnings to Four TV Stations

The Communications Commission has issued written warnings to four television stations, including two pro-government channels, for violating the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. The channels involved are the government-critical outlets Formula and TV Pirveli, as well as pro-government broadcasters POSTV and Imedi. The Commission issued the warnings based on violations of articles concerning content regulation.
  • 07.04.2026
  • Tbilisi
  • Administrative body | Court
  • Persecution based on professional grounds
Incident Type:
Legal incident→Fines, Freezing of accounts

TV Formula Journalist Liza Tsitsishvili’s Accounts Frozen

The bank accounts of TV Formula journalist Liza Tsitsishvili have been frozen. According to the journalist, it was discovered that she had been fined 5,000 GEL on the grounds of "artificially blocking the road" while performing her professional duties on Rustaveli Avenue on September 10, 2025.
GE / EN

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