According to the online outlet Publika, media representatives carrying photo and/or video cameras are still being denied entry to the Tbilisi City Court building.
Under the Law of Georgia on General Court and previous practice, journalists without a judge’s permission to record court sessions were still allowed to film freely in the hallways of the court building.
However, on May 22, 2025, when reporters arrived to cover the trial of politician Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, they found that this practice had changed and were denied entry. The Tbilisi City Court administration has not explained the reason for this change—either beforehand or afterward.
On May 23, 2025, “Publika” journalist Mariam Kavshbaia was fined 5,000 GEL by Judge Zviad Tsekvava.
The police issued an administrative offense report against Mariam Kavshbaia on February 3 of this year. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused the journalist of illegally blocking the road while carrying out her professional duties.
Mariam Kavshbaia presented evidence in the court — including photos she had taken that day, as well as her publications posted on “Publika’s” Facebook page. Additionally, video footage submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs itself showed the journalist working during the protest. Nevertheless, the court upheld the fine and ordered the journalist to pay 5,000 GEL.
Mariami Kavshbaya, a journalist for the online media outlet “Publika,” was fined twice, totaling 10,000 lari, for “artificially blocking the road.” The administrative offense report against her was issued by the police on February 3, 2025. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused her of “artificially blocking the road” while performing her professional duties on that day. Kavshbaya presented evidence to the court, including photos taken on that day and materials published on Publika’s Facebook page. In addition, she informed CMIS that even the video provided by the Ministry shows that she was working at the time of the fine. Despite this, the court upheld the fine and ordered her to pay 5,000 lari, which she did. The second fine was imposed for “blocking the road” during a protest on March 14. Kavshbaya appealed this fine, but the court has not yet scheduled a hearing.
On May 7, 2025, a judges’ conference was held in Tbilisi, where, apart from the Public Broadcaster’s “First Channel,” no media representatives were allowed access. According to TV Pirveli, journalist Mariam Gaprindashvili and her cameraman were even prevented from entering the courtyard.
Mariam Gaprindashvili stated that journalists were not given the opportunity to ask judges any questions, as most of the judges were accompanied by security and avoided the main entrance—entering the building instead through the basement or the kitchen area.
Judges, like Georgian Dream, do not allow independent media to attend public meetings.
On May 5, 2025, employees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s program “Real Space” announced that the show had been officially canceled by the broadcaster’s decision.
Information about the closure was provided to the journalists in writing on April 30 by the management of the Public Broadcaster. The letter stated:
“Considering that on April 11, 2025, the employment relationship with the show’s host and face, Nino Zautashvili, was terminated, the continuation of the program is no longer planned.”
The statement was made by the “Real Space” team during a protest held in front of the Public Broadcaster’s building.
The Media Advocacy Coalition harshly criticized the Public Broadcaster’s decision:
“The Media Advocacy Coalition strongly condemns the leadership of the Public Broadcaster for shutting down the program ‘Real Space’, which has a 12-year history, for unlawfully dismissing its host Nino Zautashvili, intimidating journalists, and creating an inappropriate work environment. This decision constitutes a deliberate act of repression against journalists who openly criticized the broadcaster’s biased editorial policy, exposed political influence within the broadcaster, and revealed propaganda in favor of the ‘Georgian Dream’ party,” — the Coalition’s statement reads.The broadcaster’s management targeted Nino Zautashvili and her team due to their critical stance. According to them, on March 21, 2025, the Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees even threatened Zautashvili with the Prosecutor’s Office.
On May 7, 2025, online media was restricted from covering the “Georgian Dream” congress. The official reason given was the limited number of available seats.
The party’s press office urged media representatives to follow the event via livestream.
At the congress, Irakli Kobakhidze was elected as the new chairman of the “Georgian Dream” party.
On April 25, 2025, journalist Irina Makaridze was notified that she had been fined 5,000 lari for “artificially blocking the road” on April 6. According to the journalist, she was on Rustaveli Avenue covering the protest for “Qronika+.” After appealing, Makaridze’s fine was canceled.
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.
On April 12, 2025, Luka Katsitadze, a journalist for “Tabula,” was fined 5,000 lari for “artificially blocking the road.” According to “Tabula,” Katsitadze was performing his professional duties on Rustaveli Avenue.
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.
On April 8, 2025, “Mauqceblis” journalist Tozu Gulmamedova was notified of a fine. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accuses her of “artificially blocking the road” on February 16 of the same year.
According to the online media outlet “Mauqceblis,” Tozu Gulmamedova was performing her professional duties at the protest on that day.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs fined OC Media founder and photographer Mariam Nikuradze four times on the grounds of “artificially blocking the road” — on March 11, March 15, and April 2 and 3. In total, the journalist has been fined 20,000 lari.
Mariam Nikuradze has appealed all of the fines. In one of the appeals, which concerned the road blockade on March 11, the Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to annul the fine. The remaining appeals are still under review.
According to the journalist, in all of the above cases she was carrying out her professional duties, was wearing press identification, and had a camera with her.
