Beka Korshia’s Arrest and the Crackdown on Press Freedom in Georgia

December 12, 2024 – Tbilisi/Georgia –

Georgian journalist Beka Korshia was arrested amid a sweeping crackdown on independent media during pro-European protests in Tbilisi. Korshia, an anchor and reporter for Mtavari Arkhi TV, was detained by police on the ninth consecutive night of demonstrations. His family reported his sudden disappearance from Rustaveli Avenue as akin to a “kidnapping.” He later reappeared in police custody and was charged with an administrative offense and fined 2,200 GEL by a Tbilisi court.

The protests, sparked by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s abandonment of a European Union accession roadmap, drew tens of thousands into the streets. As public unrest intensified, Georgian police began targeting journalists covering the demonstrations. The Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism documented over 70 cases of media workers being obstructed, assaulted, or detained between November 28 and December 10. Many of the affected journalists were visibly wearing press credentials or vests.

Korshia’s case was not isolated. Other reporters, including journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, were also arrested, sometimes violently. Video footage captured police dragging journalists away from protest areas or pushing them to the ground while filming. Authorities justified their actions by claiming that journalists were “blocking roads” or failing to comply with police orders, even though many were performing their reporting duties.

International watchdogs and press freedom organizations condemned the crackdown. The Council of Europe described it as a severe infringement on the rights of journalists and a threat to democracy. The European Union and the U.S. State Department both called on the Georgian government to respect the rights of the press and ensure accountability for abuses.

The arrest of Beka Korshia and dozens of other journalists signals an alarming deterioration in press freedom in Georgia. As the government clamps down on dissent and restricts the media’s ability to report from the streets, concerns are mounting over democratic backsliding and the erosion of fundamental rights. The targeting of journalists not only threatens individual safety but also undermines the public’s access to independent, credible information during a critical period in the country’s political trajectory.

Reference –

Journalist Beka Korshia arrested on the ninth night of the pro-European protest

https://fom.coe.int/en/alerte/detail/107641913