Journalists Brutalized During Georgia’s Pro-EU Protests Amid Democratic Backsliding

December 4, 2024 – Georgia –

In a troubling development for press freedom, at least 50 journalists were violently assaulted while covering pro-European Union protests in Georgia between November 28 and December 3, 2024. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and other press freedom watchdogs have condemned the widespread police brutality and called on Georgian authorities to ensure accountability.

Journalists were injured during clashes with riot police in Tbilisi, where demonstrators were protesting the ruling Georgian Dream party’s suspension of EU accession efforts. Among the most severe cases was Guram Rogava of Formula TV, who sustained facial fractures after being punched repeatedly by police. Aleksandre Keshelashvili, a reporter for Publika, suffered a broken nose after being beaten and detained. Reporters from TV Pirveli, Current Time TV, and other independent outlets were knocked over by water cannons, physically assaulted, or detained, despite wearing visible press credentials.

CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator, Gulnoza Said, emphasized that journalist protection is a fundamental pillar of democratic societies. She urged Georgian authorities to prosecute those responsible for these attacks and to make a clear public commitment to media safety. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that over 70 journalists were attacked, some by masked individuals believed to be plainclothes officers. Many of the injured reported being deliberately targeted, raising concerns that the violence was orchestrated rather than incidental.

Local media organizations have echoed international concerns, accusing the government of enabling a climate of impunity. Investigations into police violence have so far lacked transparency and independence, deepening fears that accountability will be evaded. Human rights groups warn that this crackdown on journalists is part of a broader regression in democratic norms.

The EU has also expressed concern, signaling that Georgia’s path to European integration could be jeopardized by these human rights violations. As the country faces mounting internal and external pressure, its treatment of the press stands as a critical indicator of whether it will uphold democratic principles or slide further toward authoritarianism. The need for justice and protection for journalists is now a defining challenge for Georgia’s democratic future.

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CPJ condemns police brutality against journalists covering Georgian protests