Georgia's press freedom ranking drops amid concerns over media crackdown

Georgia has fallen 11 places in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), now ranking 114th out of 180 countries. The decline reflected “growing concerns” over government’s alleged interference and a deteriorating environment for independent journalism.

RSF's assessment highlights that "official interference undermines efforts undertaken to improve press freedom." The organization noted that the media landscape remained hostile for independent and opposition outlets, with a "growing number of verbal and physical attacks against journalists, and attempts to pass laws aimed at marginalising the independent media and narrowing the space for free speech."

The report pointed to recent legislation, including the Transparency of Foreign Influence law and the Family Values and Protection of Minors law, as measures that threaten press freedom. The former requires media outlets and NGOs receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as pursuant of foreign influence, drawing criticism for stigmatising foreign-funded organisations and limiting their activities. The latter law prohibits broadcasters from disseminating content that "promotes identification with a gender other than one’s biological sex or relationships between individuals of the same biological sex based on sexual orientation," raising concerns about censorship and the suppression of LGBTQ+ voices.