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Since January 2024, detentions and arrests of journalists have reached unprecedented levels, mostly while they were covering protest rallies. Altogether, a total of 30 cases were documented. 27 detentions occurred during the protests against the so-called “Russian law,” post-election protests, and post-European protests.

Since October 19, 2025, after the “Georgian Dream” parliament passed yet another repressive amendment under an expedited procedure, 14 media representatives were detained in Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue for participating in — and in some cases covering — the ongoing protest.

Over the past year, the Center for Media, Information and Social Research (CMIS) documented 434 incidents in Georgia that targeted journalists, media outlets, and civil society organizations working on media rights. In several cases, a single incident encompassed multiple forms of violations (e.g. detention coupled with physical violence).

Since November 28, 2024, during the ongoing pro-European protests in Georgia, journalists have repeatedly faced attacks and unlawful restrictions. There have been numerous cases of media workers being unjustly sanctioned while performing their professional duties — including fines for allegedly blocking roads while reporting on the protests, often without any legitimate basis.

While covering ongoing protests in Tbilisi and other cities across Georgia, a clear pattern has emerged: journalists, camera operators, and photographers are increasingly being obstructed in their work. This includes instances of verbal and physical abuse, as well as the damage to or confiscation of their equipment.