Tbilisi

Members of “Georgian Dream” and the police verbally and physically harassed journalists from “Publika”

On September 3, 2025, Beka Odisharia, a member of “Georgian Dream,” former MP, and candidate for Tbilisi City Council, verbally insulted “Publika” journalist Mindia Gabazde. Other members and supporters of “Georgian Dream” verbally and physically harassed and spat on the publication’s editor, Lika Zakashvili. The police, instead of protecting Zakashvili, interfered with her work by forcing her to stop filming through physical restraint.

The incidents occurred during the opening of the election campaign headquarters of “Georgian Dream” Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze. The event took place against the backdrop of a protest, and journalists were attempting to cover the events.

Video footage recorded by “Publika” shows Beka Odisharia speaking insultingly to Mindia Gabazde after the journalist asked him a question. In the same episode, Odisharia also verbally abuses protest participants and other journalists present.

Lika Zakashvili became a target of “Georgian Dream” supporters when she tried to film their insulting actions toward activists. One person struck her and tried to take her mobile phone, then another approached from behind and spat on her. The footage shows that law enforcement did not intervene. On the contrary, in a subsequent clip, a police officer physically tried to stop Zakashvili from filming.

According to the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, “Impunity for crimes against journalists encourages perpetrators and drives them to commit more offenses.” The Charter calls on “Georgian Dream” to put an end to such practices, take responsibility, and ensure a safe working environment for journalists.

The Media Advocacy Coalition emphasized that this is not the first instance of violence against journalists by “Georgian Dream” supporters. “Under Bidzina Ivanishvili’s governance, we see systemic violence against independent media. Repressive legislation has been enacted against independent media. All of these incidents are part of a coordinated strategy aimed at suppressing independent media and critical voices in the country,” the coalition said.

UPDATE: Based on a complaint filed with the prosecutor’s office, on September 11, 2025, “Publika” editor-in-chief Lika Zakashvili was questioned. The prosecutor’s office opened a case based on Zakashvili’s statement.

Heads of non-governmental organizations summoned for questioning

Leaders of prominent Georgian non-governmental organizations, including members of the Media Advocacy Coalition, have been summoned for questioning by the prosecutor’s office. The questioning is related to the so-called “mask case,” which the prosecutor’s office began investigating in February 2025 on charges of “sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, and other similar crimes.” According to the organizations, the investigation is unfounded and aims to persecute, intimidate, and dismantle the civil sector.

Based on publicly available information, those summoned for questioning include: Tamta Mikeladze, head of the Social Justice Center; former and current directors of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Nino Dolidze and Levan Natroshvili; Giorgi Mshvenieradze, head of Guardians of Democracy; Baia Pataraia, director of the organization Safar; and Aleko Tskitishvili, head of the Human Rights Center. They have stated on social media that they will agree to questioning only before a magistrate judge. All of them have already been questioned in court.

It should be noted that, in connection with the same case, at the prosecutor’s request, on August 27, 2025, seven organizations’ accounts were frozen: members of the Media Advocacy Coalition – Civil Society Foundation, ISFED, IDFI, GDI – as well as organizations working on human rights and anti-corruption – Guardians of Democracy, Safar, and the Social Justice Center.

“Standing on the Sidewalk” and “Blocking the Road” Cases Against RFE/RL Camera Operator

On September 4, 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs fined Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) camera operator Zuka Khidasheli 5,000 GEL for “blocking the road.” Khidasheli has appealed the fine.

The MIA initiated a second case against Zuka Khidasheli on December 18, 2025. In this instance, the Ministry also accused him of “standing on the sidewalk.” A judge later dismissed this case.

According to Radio Liberty, in both instances—September 4 and December 18, 2025—Khidasheli was performing his editorial duties as an RFE/RL camera operator, covering protest rallies.

CMIS is providing detailed documentation on information regarding fines issued against journalists from October 26, 2024, to the present.

Public Broadcaster fires another “Real Space” employee

According to GPB Guardians, the Public Broadcaster’s First Channel has fired another employee of “Real Space,” Meri Shikhashvili. GPB Guardians reports that Shikhashvili was dismissed immediately upon returning from maternity leave.

The Public Broadcaster, amid pro-European demonstrations, has been dismissing employees who are critical of management, with some also facing various disciplinary sanctions.

In 2025, the Public Broadcaster imposed disciplinary measures or dismissed several employees for expressing critical positions. Among them are Nino Zautashvili, host and creator of the program “Real Space,” and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, host of the program “Moambe.”

“TV Pirveli” cameraman Giorgi Mosiashvili fined 10,000 GEL for “artificially blocking the road”

Giorgi Mosiashvili, a photojournalist for the tv ”Pirveli” was fined twice by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, totaling 10,000 lari. The police accuse him of blocking Rustaveli Avenue on February 21 and March 11. In a post on social media, Mosiashvili noted that he was performing his professional duties at the time the fines were issued.

Georgian Dream increased the amount of fines in the context of the pro-European protests that began after November 28. According to amendments made to Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offence, the fine for illegally blocking a roadway has been increased tenfold from 500 GEL to 5,000 GEL.

“Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics” will not be able to monitor election-related coverage this year

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics announced that, for the first time since 2012, it will not be able to monitor how media outlets cover election-related issues during the election period. In its statement, the Charter cited repressive legislation adopted by Georgian Dream as the reason.

Amid pro-European protest rallies, Georgian Dream passed several laws which, according to assessments by local and international organizations, significantly restrict independent media organizations.

The Public Broadcaster deducted Giga Kitiya’s salary for making a public appearance

On August 26, 2025, the Public Broadcaster accused editor-operator, Giga Kitia, of causing “reputational damage” to the channel due to his participation in a protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue and deducted 30 percent from his September salary.

The Public Broadcaster warned Giga Kitia that if he is found to have committed a similar or other type of violation within 12 months, he will be dismissed from his job.

The Public Broadcaster also issued a reprimand to the editor-operator in April.

The Public Broadcaster dismissed critical journalists from the channel in April 2025.

The accounts of the member organizations of the “Media Advocacy Coalition” were frozen

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against non-governmental organizations, including member organizations of the “Media Advocacy Coalition,” on charges of “sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance in hostile activities to a foreign organization and an organization under foreign control, and mobilization of funds for activities directed against the constitutional order and foundations of national security of Georgia.”

On August 27, 2025, Tbilisi City Court satisfied the Prosecutor’s Office’s request and froze the bank accounts of these organizations.

Minutes after the Prosecutor’s Office released its statement, the pro-government TV company “Imedi” broadcast a story supporting the investigation, specifically using comments from civil sector representatives from pro-European rallies. The Prosecutor’s Office’s accusation charges the organizations with mobilizing funds to purchase special equipment (such as special gas masks, helmets, face coverings, medical masks, protective goggles) for participants of the pro-European rallies.

More than 50 civil society and media organizations expressed solidarity with the seized organizations.

“Taking punitive steps against Georgian non-governmental organizations, similar to the Russian authorities, confirms that the Ivanishvili government’s interest is the complete destruction of dissenting opinion and pro-European groups in Georgia,” the statement said.

Based on the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, the accounts of seven organizations were seized on August 27. These are: “Civil Society Foundation,” “International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” (ISFED), “Institute for Development of Freedom of Information” (IDFI), “Guardians of Democracy,” “Georgian Democratic Initiative” (GDI), “Sapari,” and “Social Justice Center.” Among these, “Civil Society Foundation,” ISFED, IDFI, and GDI are members of the “Media Advocacy Coalition.”

The Anti-Corruption Bureau is requesting information about grants from member organizations of the “Media Advocacy Coalition”

On August 11, 2025, several non-governmental organizations four of which are members of the Media Advocacy Coalition received another letter from the Anti-Corruption Bureau accusing them of violating the “Foreign Agents Registration Act” (FARA). The organizations concerned are the Civil Society Foundation, Transparency International Georgia, the Media Development Foundation, and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED).

“They are threatening us with criminal liability and demanding explanations as to why we did not register as agents,” the organizations said in a joint statement.

According to members of the coalition, FARA does not apply to them, and they do not intend to comply with what they call “Russian laws.”

“Our mission is election observation, exposing corruption and disinformation, defending democracy, and assisting the Georgian people,” the organizations stated.

The NGOs first received a letter from the Anti-Corruption Bureau in June 2025.

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), of which the Media Development Foundation is a member, condemned the harassment of fact-checkers and civil society in Georgia.
“The investigations launched by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, as well as the threat of criminal liability under the so-called foreign agents law, represent an alarming escalation against organizations that provide the public with reliable information,” the IFCN said in a statement.

Georgian Dream Parliamentary Chairman Attempts to Discredit Manager of Netgazeti and Batumelebi Publications

On June 20, 2025, Georgian Dream Parliamentary Chairman Shalva Papuashvili attempted to discredit the pre-detained manager of the online publications Netgazeti and Batumelebi, Mzia Amaglobeli, with a post on social media: “Solidarity to violence is incitement to further violence.”

Papuashvili’s statement followed a post shared by the European Union Delegation, in which the delegation expressed solidarity with the publication Batumelebi and Mzia Amaglobeli and called on Georgian Dream to “stop the systematic attack on democratic institutions and fundamental rights.” The EU delegation’s post is accompanied by a photo featuring the EU ambassador and the editor of Batumelebi