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March 16, 2025 – Georgia –
Georgia’s media landscape has witnessed a significant decline in press freedom, marked by increasing violence against journalists and restrictive legislation.
On March 15, 2025, Gela Mtivlishvili, editor-in-chief of the “Mtis Ambebi” publication, was attacked by an armed officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs near Tserovani. The assailant, accompanied by another individual, threatened and physically assaulted Mtivlishvili, attempting to seize his phone as he documented the incident. Eyewitnesses captured the attack on video. This incident underscores the hazardous conditions journalists face in Georgia.
The Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC), comprising 17 NGOs dedicated to media rights, condemned the assault, highlighting a pattern of intimidation and violence against media professionals. MAC emphasized that such attacks have intensified following protests against the controversial “Foreign Agents Law,” which mandates media outlets and NGOs receiving over 20% foreign funding to register as foreign agents. Critics argue this law mirrors Russian legislation aimed at suppressing dissent and undermines Georgia’s democratic aspirations.
Further exacerbating concerns, Georgia’s ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders dropped from 103rd to 114th. The report cited increasing violence against journalists, political control over public broadcasters, and the imprisonment of media figures like Mzia Amaghlobeli as indicators of the country’s deteriorating media freedom.
International bodies have voiced alarm over these developments. The Media Freedom Coalition, representing 25 member countries, expressed deep concern about the declining media freedom in Georgia, particularly criticizing the “Foreign Agents Law” for threatening democratic principles and press independence.
In light of these events, media advocacy groups and international organizations urge the Georgian government to uphold press freedom, ensure the safety of journalists, and align its policies with democratic standards to maintain its path toward European integration.
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