Formula journalist banned from Parliament for one month over interview attempt

Eliso Jariashvili, a journalist and anchor at independent broadcaster Formula, has been banned from working in the Georgian Parliament until May 23, 2025. The decision was made at the request of ruling Georgian Dream party MP Archil Gorduladze, who accused the journalist of attempting to interview him without consent.

According to a formal notice sent to Jariashvili by the parliamentary administration, she violated internal media conduct rules on April 16 while conducting interviews for Formula’s April 17 broadcast. Jariashvili was reportedly asking MPs what measures they were taking to address poverty in the country.

Gorduladze told her at the time: “I’ll answer all your questions, but not now. And not the way you decide… I don’t give interviews to journalists or TV stations associated with the United National Movement. If you don’t follow the rules, I’ll be forced to warn you. If you ignore the rules again, the penalties outlined in the regulations will apply.”

Strict rules on journalists were introduced under the current Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili. Under these rules, journalists must cease interviews if an MP refuses to participate. Violations result in one-month or six-month bans from parliament premises, depending on the severity.

This is not the first time such sanctions have been applied. After two similar infractions, TV Pirveli’s Nata Kajaia has been banned from entering Parliament until September 24, 2025. Journalists from online, print, and radio outlets have also faced restrictions under the same regulations, which give the Speaker broad authority to limit press access.