Tbilisi

A Member of Parliament from ‘Georgian Dream’ Attempts to Discredit ‘Myth Detector’

A Member of Parliament from “Georgian Dream,” Nino Tsilosani, calls the fact-checking organization “Myth Detector” “trolls.”

“So, ‘Myth Detector,’ that is, trolls exposed by a troll?! So should we believe the Myth Detector troll?! I am telling you that [Myth Detector] is a troll; the goals of this organization are unknown to everyone. Isn’t it your television’s goal to label someone a troll! To call a person a troll who says the truth about a BBC article and a documentary film, that it was a lie—so you call a troll a person who was laughing that for you it was important that a parrot lost its feathers,” Nino Tsilosani stated.

Representatives of “Georgian Dream” are systematically engaged in the public discreditation of independent media, journalists, and representatives of civil society, with the aim of damaging their reputation in the eyes of the public.

Formula Journalist Obstructed on Duty, Phone Confiscated and Footage Deleted, Threatened with Arrest

On January 26, 2026, Formula TV journalist Nano Chakvetadze had her phone confiscated, the footage recorded on site was deleted, and she was threatened with arrest.

According to information reported by the media, a Formula journalist was covering the death of an employee of the Anti-Corruption Agency near the building of the State Security Service (SSS), when the media representative was obstructed while performing her professional duties.

“We tried to film footage and ask questions to investigators, but first they forcibly took our phone, and then, again using force, made us leave the area,” says Formula TV journalist Nano Chakvetadze.

The incident was addressed by the Media Advocacy Coalition. “Pressure on journalists and the unlawful restriction of their work constitute a gross violation of media freedom. We stand in solidarity with Nano Chakvetadze and all representatives of independent media who are forced to work and inform the public in an extremely challenging environment,” the coalition’s statement reads.

JamNews Copywriter Irakli Datunashvili Fined Twice for “Artificially Blocking the Road”

JamNews Copywriter Irakli Datunashvili Fined Twice for “Artificially Blocking the Road” at February 28 and March 6, 2025 Protests.

JamNews copywriter Irakli Datunashvili was fined twice for “artificially blocking the road” during protests held on February 28 and March 6, 2025. He appealed the fines at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which together total 10,000 GEL.

In the context of pro-European protests, the Georgian Dream party increased the fines, which have been applied since November 28. Under amendments to Georgia’s Administrative Offenses Code, fines for illegally blocking roads were raised tenfold—from 500 GEL to 5,000 GEL.

Tbilisi City Council Member Attempts to Discredit Independent Media

Tbilisi City Council member Konstantine Zarnadze of “Georgian Dream” accuses independent media outlets of “psychological terror, sowing disorder and fear.”

“It is impossible to ignore the psychological terror that opposition media carry out on a daily basis… This is no longer journalism; this is manipulation of people’s psyche. Their goal is to create a constant sense of tension, to sow disorder and fear in society, and to instill complete hopelessness about the future,” the council member said in response to reports by critical media outlets about food prices.

Representatives of “Georgian Dream” systematically engage in the public discrediting of independent media and journalists, with the aim of undermining them in the eyes of the public.

The Communications Commission issued a verbal warning to ‘Radio Marneuli’

On January 22, the Communications Commission issued a written warning to “Radio Marneuli” over receiving a grant. The Commission’s decision was based on the repressive amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which prohibit media outlets from receiving grants from donor organizations.

The Commission’s statement noted that the media outlet had received a grant of 32,542 GEL from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

“The funds were received as part of a grant project and did not fall under the exceptions defined by the Law on Broadcasting, such as commercial advertising, teleshopping, sponsorship, or product placement in programming,” the statement said.

This is the second warning issued to “Radio Marneuli.”

In the first case, the Commission had warned the media outlet over a grant received from Deutsche Welle.

A series of repressive laws were passed by the Parliament under the ruling party, Georgian Dream, including a provision effective from April 1, 2025, banning direct or indirect funding of broadcasters from “foreign forces.”

The amendments were immediately criticized by civil society and independent media, as the provision could be used as a tool to restrict the financial and editorial independence of independent media.

Goga Khaindrava, a supporter of ‘Georgian Dream,’ is suing TV Formula

At a press conference held on January 21, “Georgian Dream” supporter Goga Khaindrava announced that he is suing tv “Formula.”

On January 17, “Shabatis Formula” (Saturday Formula) aired a report about Goga Khaindrava. According to the report, Khaindrava is allegedly involved in corruption schemes.

After the report was broadcast, the show’s host, Davit Kashiashvili, stated that he received a threatening letter from an unknown individual. The author of the threat wrote to the journalist: “Tbilisi is a small city… take care of yourself, buddy.”

Davit Kashiashvili personally announced this during a live broadcast of the program, thereby notifying the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia about the matter.

TV ‘Imedi’ is trying to discredit Vika Bukia

On January 20, Pro-Government TV”Imedi” published a clip on its social media page taken from a monologue by TV Pirveli journalist Vika Bukia, with the caption: “The grammatical ‘education’ of a propagandist.”

Vika Bukia is a journalist known for her critical stance toward “Georgian Dream.” It is for this reason that the pro-government TV station “Imedi” singled out an excerpt from the journalist’s monologue and, for the purpose of discrediting her, labeled her a “propagandist.”

Threats against a journalist following the investigative report aired on ‘Saturday Formula’

On January 17, after an investigative report aired on Saturday Formula about the possible involvement of “Georgian Dream” supporter Goga Khaindrava in corruption schemes, the program’s host, Davit Kashiashvili, received a threatening message on social media from an unknown person. The author of the threat wrote to the journalist: “Tbilisi is a small city… take care of yourself, buddy.”

Davit Kashiashvili announced the incident himself during the program’s live broadcast, thereby informing the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. It is also noteworthy that a few weeks earlier Saturday Formula had prepared a report on Goga Khaindrava’s property, after the broadcast of which the director publicly stated his intention to file a lawsuit against the television company.

According to the assessment of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics, this case of threats against a journalist is particularly alarming against the backdrop of inadequate protection of journalists’ safety in Georgia. The organization calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to immediately investigate the incident and ensure the journalist’s safety.

Fines and seizures for a journalist’s professional activities

On August 30, 2025, Tozu Gulmamedli, a journalist for the independent online media outlet “Mautskebeli,” was fined 5,000 GEL for a second time on the grounds of “blocking the road” near the Parliament building. Although the journalist was performing her professional duties – as evidenced by materials published on “Mautskebeli’s” platforms investigative authorities failed to take this circumstance into account.

According to information released by “Mautskebeli,” the National Bureau of Enforcement has frozen the journalist’s bank accounts and threatened to seize property registered in her name, granting her a seven-day deadline to comply with the aforementioned demand.

Such practices constitute the criminalization of journalistic activity and an interference with professional duties. Furthermore, the use of seizures acts as a mechanism for additional financial pressure and substantially restricts the freedom of a journalist to carry out their professional activities.

Criminal prosecution may be initiated against Afgan Sadigov

On January 16, Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Enukidze terminated the administrative proceedings initiated against journalist Afgan Sadigov and referred the case to the Tbilisi Police Department, as the court assessed that his actions may contain elements of a criminal offense. This means that the journalist faces the risk of a criminal investigation being launched.

The case concerns an incident that occurred on December 17–18, 2025. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accuses Afgan Sadigov of obstructing traffic and/or pedestrian movement. According to the court’s assessment, since the journalist had already been subjected to an administrative penalty on the same grounds in October 2025, the conduct contains signs of a criminal offense.

This decision was made against the backdrop of legislative amendments under which, in the event of a repeated violation, administrative liability is replaced by criminal liability.