Swiss Journalist Gregor Sommer Barred from Georgia Amid Election Pressures

October 01, 2025 – Georgia/Switzerland –

Swiss photojournalist Gregor Sommer was denied entry into Georgia on September 28, 2025, forcing him to return from Tbilisi after refusing to pay two fines totalling ₾10,000 (roughly USD 3,700) for alleged road obstruction during protests.

Upon arrival, Sommer says he was detained at a border checkpoint where officials confiscated his phone and denied him access to a lawyer or a clear explanation for the fines.  He has visited Georgia several times before—reportedly “six or seven” occasions—and covered protests triggered by the government’s pause on EU accession talks.

The fines were reportedly framed as penalties for “blocking the road.” Sommer balked at paying them, contending they were unjust and lacking clear legal justification. His detention and forced exit come amid a wave of border refusals affecting journalists, activists, and human rights defenders seen as critical of the ruling party, Georgian Dream.

In parallel, another European journalist—anonymously identified as German—was held up at a Georgian border for six hours and only allowed entry after paying a ₾5,000 fine for a similar alleged offense. These cases align with a broader pattern of entry denials and harassment of foreign media ahead of Georgia’s local elections and political tensions surrounding Russia and Western influence.

Observers say these tactics aim to restrict coverage and discourage independent reporting in a politically charged environment. The targeting of journalists through entry refusals and punitive fines undermines press freedom, especially at a time when Georgia’s political trajectory and electoral transparency are under scrutiny.

Reference –

https://www.mapmf.org/alert/33821

https://oc-media.org/swiss-journalist-denied-entry-to-georgia-ahead-of-local-elections/

Swiss Photojournalist Gregor Sommer Denied Entry to Georgia