The night of November 28-29, 2024, will stand out in Georgia’s recent history as another act  of systematic violence against the media by the Ruling Party “Georgian Dream”. This organized violence against journalists represents a determined effort to establish an authoritarian regime.

On November 28, Georgian citizens rallied to protest the Ruling Party’s decision to abort EU accession talks and suspend the EU integration process. During the dispersal of the peaceful protest, law enforcements launched a punitive operation against journalists, photographers, and cameramen, resulting in injuries to more than 30 media representatives who were obstructed from performing their professional duties. The list of incidents continues to grow.

Special forces deliberately targeted media representatives, despite their professional identification, including press badges. Live broadcasts captured moments of journalists being beaten, verbally abused, detained, and having their professional equipment damaged or seized, indicating a clear intent to obstruct media coverage.

Methods characteristic of authoritarian regimes were used against journalists, which individual examples clearly demonstrate:

• The detention and beating of “Publika” journalist Alexander Keshelashvili, despite his repeated claims of being a journalist
• The attack on “Formula” journalist Guram Rogava during a live broadcast, resulted in severe head injury.
• The assault and injury of five employees from “TV Pirveli” including an attack on a cameraman

Injured journalists represent various outlets, including:

• Publika
• Formula
• TV Pirveli
• Adjara Television
• Netgazeti
• OC Media
• JAMnews
• Project 64
• Mtavari Channel
• Radio Liberty
• Studio Monitor
• Media Aprili

The violence against journalists and restrictions on their professional activities not only jeopardize the media but also infringe upon the rights of every citizen to be informed about current events.

The coalition urges law enforcement to reject illegal orders and to uphold Georgia’s constitution and laws.

For updated list follow the link: The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics.

Attack on Radio Free journalist during live broadcast