Georgia’s Media Under Siege: Global Community Urged to Intervene

October 10, 2025 – Georgia –

In a forceful appeal dated October 10, 2025, media freedom advocates and civil society organizations have raised alarms about an accelerating crackdown on Georgian journalists and press freedom defenders and called on the international community, especially the European Union, to act decisively.

According to the joint statement, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) government has ratcheted up both institutional pressures and physical harassment against the press. On October 4, at least 11 journalists were targeted—both by independent outlets and state-aligned media—during municipal election protests, signalling a broader trend of suppression.

Alarmingly, investigations into attacks affecting independent media remain conspicuously absent. While the prosecutor’s office has initiated probes into obstruction of media by the pro-government broadcaster Imedi and allied outlets, no parallel action has been taken against violations targeting independent press voices—underscoring the selective enforcement that entrenches impunity.

The pressure isn’t limited to physical intimidation. Since amendments to Georgia’s grant laws in April, authorities have prohibited media outlets from accepting foreign funding without prior government approval. Into this framework, the state has launched inquiries into independent online platforms and civil society groups associated with journalism, demanding sensitive organisational documents under extremely tight deadlines.

Among those scrutinised are Project 64 (which publishes Mtis Ambebi), the investigative newsroom iFact, and the Governance Monitoring Center, which runs outlets like Squander Detector and Realpolitika. Multiple organisations have been compelled to reveal donor contracts, budgets, and operational reports within just three days.

Reinforcing the global concern, the signatories welcome recent rebukes from EU Vice President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kallas condemning Georgia’s clampdown—but they emphasise that rhetoric must evolve into concrete action. The statement warns that without external support, Georgia’s civil society and independent media may not survive the intensifying assaults.

As the ruling party explicitly pledges to “stifle dissent,” the appeal represents a pivotal moment: whether Georgia’s media landscape will be further suffocated—or whether international pressure can stem the downward spiral.

References –

https://www.article19.org/resources/georgia-safeguard-independent-journalism/