Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) reports that nearly 200 journalists have been subjected to violence and intimidation this year, citing inadequate state responses and the impunity of perpetrators as signals that such actions may be tacitly endorsed.
The organization highlighted violence against media representatives, particularly during pro-European protests across Georgia since late November.
From November 28 onwards, more than 90 incidents of media rights violations were documented, including physical attacks, illegal detentions, equipment damage, and the use of chemical agents and water cannons, it said on Monday.
Journalists covering the protests, such as Maka Chikhladze of TV Pirveli and Guram Rogava of Formula TV, suffered severe injuries during targeted attacks, TI Georgia said.
TI Georgia also pointed to a “concerning trend of legal inaction”, with only 16 criminal cases investigated by the Special Investigation Service as of November 30, 2024, and most still unresolved.
Despite some prosecutions, transparency around the outcomes remains unclear. Additionally, the organization criticized the Communications Commission for its role in penalizing critical broadcasters during the election period, thus reinforcing the government’s control over media coverage.
The report also mentioned the ongoing issue of foreign journalists being denied entry to Georgia, exacerbating the environment for press freedom. TI Georgia concluded that these actions, coupled with the lack of legal accountability, reflected a broader state capture where government institutions “serve to consolidate power rather than protect citizens’ rights”.
