During the one-year period of pro-European protests, “Transparency International – Georgia” (TI) has recorded nearly 400 public cases of violence, intimidation, threats, harassment, and obstruction of journalists in the course of their professional activities. According to the organization, around 300 cases occurred in 2025, while the first 100 were recorded in the last month of 2024.

Physical attacks on journalists:
“During coverage of the year-long continuous protest rallies, dozens of journalists and camera operators were seriously injured and required medical assistance due to targeted physical attacks, the use of tear gas, and water cannons. Journalists were verbally abused, intimidated, humiliated, and discredited. In addition, during the coverage of protests, equipment was damaged or confiscated from multiple journalists,” reads the TI statement.

The organization emphasizes that none of the attacks on media representatives have been investigated. TI notes that law enforcement agencies have shown clear indifference toward these cases, which “raises a well-founded suspicion that the prevention of such crimes, proper investigation, and punishment of the perpetrators are not in the interests of the Georgian Dream government, and that these illegal acts were in fact organized by the authorities.”

Illegal detention of journalists:
According to TI, 26 journalists were detained over the past year, more than half of them in the last month, mostly under administrative procedures.

“Particularly alarming was the criminal detention in January 2025 of Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the online publications Batumelebi and Netgazeti, and her two-year prison sentence. It is noteworthy that her health significantly deteriorated in custody. According to human rights defenders, her eyesight ‘is at a critical level.’ The mass detention and persecution of journalists in this manner is part of the repressive policy of the Georgian Dream party, aimed at suppressing and ultimately eradicating free speech in the country,” the organization states.

Illegal fines imposed on journalists:
The organization recorded around 40 cases of fines imposed on media representatives during coverage of protests.

“It is evident that the disregard for journalistic work by law enforcement during protests, and the imposition of substantial fines for performing professional duties, serves to intimidate journalists and increase pressure on them, ultimately creating additional financial constraints that could force them to abandon their profession,” the organization says.

TI also notes that the “hostile environment for critical media has been compounded by further restrictive measures under various repressive laws, including the increased controlling role of the Communications Commission, so-called SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), and the cutting off of funding sources.”

“Nevertheless, independent critical media remain steadfast in serving the public and providing comprehensive information to society. Transparency International – Georgia values the role and importance of independent, critical media in this difficult situation and expresses gratitude to each journalist for their tireless work and dedication to professional duties. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the fundamental values of democracy, and its main guarantee is media independent from government influence. Media free from government influence is currently under the threat of destruction. The disappearance of independent media would ultimately finalize the establishment of a one-party system and steer the country toward dictatorial governance,” the organization concludes.