Rédaction Since late November 2024, Georgians have been protesting daily for democracy and their country’s accession to the European Union. Now facing increasing repression that threatens their rights and press freedom, they are calling on the international community to take action.
[published on 13/08/2025]
Since the announcement on November 28, 2024 that Georgia’s integration process into the European Union had been suspended, daily protests have been taking place across the country. The population is urging the ruling Georgian Dream party to stop restricting civil liberties and to reverse what many consider to be a pro-Russian orientation following the adoption of new laws.
However, this civil opposition has been met with increasing repression and intimidation, particularly against journalists covering the protests and doing their job. The European Union has repeatedly called on the government to abandon its autocratic policies. It has also prepared sanctions against the government and visa restrictions if these measures are not taken.
An increasingly hostile climate for journalists
The crackdown affects Georgian society as a whole, but it particularly affects independent journalists, who are targeted for their criticism of the government and their coverage of the large-scale protests. They face numerous challenges in their daily work. Between threats to their physical and digital security, criminal prosecution, financial penalties, and other attacks on the media, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to do their job.
The FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) is one example, dubbed the « Russian law » by protesters. It will cause significant difficulties for media outlets that rely on foreign funding, among others.
Mariam Nikuradze, editor-in-chief of OC Media (an English-language online newspaper in the Caucasus), has suffered the consequences. In an article published on Voxeurop, she recounts receiving fines totaling almost €6,400 for allegedly blocking the road, even though she was clearly wearing her press badge and carrying a camera indicating that she was at work.
Nino, a student in Tbilisi (name changed for security reasons; editor’s note) who has participated in several pro-European demonstrations, also warns of this situation. She highlights how thousands of people have been given punitive fines (ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 GEL, equivalent to €20,000 to €32,000), and how organizations have been forced to close due to pressure and a lack of funding.
Another journalist at the heart of this crackdown is Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the independent channels Netgazeti and Batumelebi. Arrested on January 12 for putting a sticker on a wall calling for a strike, she was detained again after her release, accused of slapping a police officer—her case is considered by many to be politically motivated.
Her trial for the second offense (for which she faced up to seven years in prison) began on August 1 and ended on August 4. Throughout the trial, she maintained her innocence and denounced the ill-treatment she had suffered while in detention. The final verdict was due to be handed down on the same day, but was postponed until August 6. On that day, it was announced that she had been sentenced to two years in prison, after the charges against her were reclassified from « assaulting a police officer » to « resisting, threatening or using violence against a law enforcement officer. »
Léla Lashkhi, a Georgian journalist living in France, believes that this imprisonment is clearly targeting the profession: « It sends a strong signal to other journalists: covering sensitive or critical issues regarding the authorities can lead to legal reprisals. » In her view, it is « an indicator of a worrying trend towards using institutions to restrict press freedom. »
These measures against journalists are part of a growing government strategy to stifle criticism and maintain its legitimacy in the face of allegations of electoral fraud. Several new laws have recently been signed or implemented, creating a legal basis for these restrictions. New restrictions on freedom of expression and trial coverage were announced in laws enacted on June 23. Finally, independent channels such as Formula TV and TV Pirveli have been prosecuted by the government for using terms it dislikes, such as « illegitimate government » and « prisoners of the regime. »
This lack of a legal framework to protect journalists also leads to an increase in physical attacks against them, which are either ignored or participated in by the police. During the period from November to December 2024 (when the protests were at their height), more than 100 such incidents were recorded (according to a report by the Justice for Journalists foundation), and no investigations were opened.
Foreign journalists and activists residing in Georgia are also increasingly being denied entry into the country upon their return, without any official reason being given. Since the start of the protests, this has happened to at least five journalists, including recently to French photojournalist Hicham El Bouhmidi.
International reactions
In response to this anti-democratic turn, the European Union has called on the Georgian Dream party to end the « rollback of democratic principles » and has considered suspending the visa liberalization regime, in place since 2017, which allows Georgian citizens to travel without a visa to the Schengen area for short stays. Lashkhi also welcomes these actions in favor of freedom in Georgia, but stresses the importance of targeted actions, arguing that statements « remain largely symbolic and often lack concrete leverage. »
Nino believes that this possible suspension could be used by the government to « further strengthen anti-European rhetoric » and that it would also constitute the loss of an « important soft power tool that the EU could use to connect with the ordinary population and the youth of Georgia. »
However, she stresses that Georgian youth and protesters remain determined, motivated, and creative, embodying « the Georgian spirit of resistance, struggle for freedom, and belief in a better future. » Finally, she urges Brussels to hold the regime accountable and counter its propaganda, as well as to support civil society on the ground—which she believes will be crucial to securing victory for the protesters.
See the French version : Géorgie. Dans un contexte de grave crise démocratique, la liberté de la presse en danger
