Press freedom organizations have called on the Georgian government to safeguard journalists amid a concerning wave of threats and restrictions targeting media professionals covering the country’s recent parliamentary election. This plea follows a joint report that paints a troubling picture of the environment for journalists during the elections held on October 26, 2024. Incidents mentioned in the report include a CNews journalist being assaulted at a polling station by three individuals and several cases of vandalism against camera operators’ equipment, along with verbal abuse and threats faced by journalists, who were derogatorily labeled as “agents” or “enemies of the country” (see full report here).
Further aggravating the situation, two foreign journalists were denied entry into Georgia, reportedly due to ambiguous legal provisions. Czech reporter Ray Baseley faced a 34-hour detention without legal contact for over 20 hours, while Swiss photojournalist Stephan Goss similarly faced entry refusals. The Media Freedom Rapid Response suggests that these occurrences reflect a broader pattern of repression against Georgian media, exacerbated by legislation perceived to threaten journalistic independence. Notably, Georgia reintroduced the Transparency of Foreign Influence law in 2024, mandating state registration for foreign-funded organizations, a provision criticized globally and compared to Russia’s restrictive “foreign agent” legislation (read more).
The joint report has identified at least 30 instances of abuse against journalists, many attributed to supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The law targeting foreign influences has been condemned by UN experts who argue that it could have a chilling effect on civil society and journalistic freedoms, possibly signaling a step back from democratic values (details here).
This appeal for protection of journalists underscores an urgent need for Georgia to uphold press freedoms and democratic norms, ensuring a safe environment for media coverage and preventing further escalation of hostility towards journalists (source).