An existential threat and a struggle for survival—these are the challenges that independent Georgian media face on May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day. This year, the alarming trend that emerged in 2024 continues, during which nearly 200 cases of various forms of violence against media representatives and interference in journalistic activities were recorded [1]. In just the first four months of 2025, Transparency International Georgia recorded more than 85 publicly reported cases of the same kind.

Alongside the increasing instances of violence and interference in journalistic activities, a particularly dangerous trend is emerging: the instrumentalization of law enforcement and the judiciary by the ruling power against journalists. This is primarily reflected in unlawful detentions and fines. In 2025, 40% (33 cases) of the recorded incidents fall under this category. This report reviews such examples.

Transparency International Georgia has categorized the abusive use of the justice system against the media into three main areas: Unlawful detention of journalists; Fines or declarations of legal violations under administrative procedures; Fines for “blocking roads.” It is worth noting that this trend mirrors measures taken by other authoritarian regimes, where representatives of the free press are often targeted for repression. Among these tactics is the imposition of disproportionately high fines relative to the country's average income level—measures that have proven effective in countries like Belarus and Russia for restricting journalistic activity and suppressing protest movements more broadly.

Unlawful Detention of Journalists

• Particularly alarming is the case of the unlawful detention [2] and pre-trial imprisonment of Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the online outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, during a pro-European protest on the night of January 11–12, 2025. Initially detained under administrative procedures, she was later charged under criminal law. She is accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer and faces 4 to 7 years in prison. Despite calls from numerous respected international and local human rights organizations, she remains in unlawful pre-trial detention. Transparency International Georgia has identified [3] clear political motives in Amaghlobeli’s case, evident in both her unlawful arrest and the unjustified imposition of pre-trial detention. It is clear that “she is not being punished for committing any significantly dangerous act, but rather for years of exposing the regime’s involvement in corruption and other illegal activities.”
• On January 12, during the course of his professional duties, Batumelebi cameraman Guram Murvanidze was also detained [4]. Later, a court sentenced him to 8 days of administrative detention. Although he was charged with disobeying a police order, video footage clearly shows that he was performing his professional duties at the time of the arrest.
• On February 19, TV Pirveli cameraman Lasha Jiashvili was violently and unlawfully detained [5] while returning home from a pro-European protest. He was reportedly followed by unidentified individuals dressed in black, presumably due to a protest banner critical of Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of the ruling party Georgian Dream. During his arrest, Jiashvili claimed the authorities attempted to plant something in his pocket. Later, a court fined him 2,500 GEL for disobeying a lawful order from a police officer.
• On April 6 in Tbilisi, near Marjanishvili metro station, Indigo journalist Saba Sordia was stopped “for a check” and then unlawfully detained [6] for “disobedience to police.” Despite not resisting the officers and clearly identifying himself as a journalist, he was taken to a pre-trial detention facility and held there for up to 48 hours. He was later fined 2,500 GEL by the court.
• On May 1, the Tbilisi City Court fined [7] TV Pirveli cameraman Lasha Jiashvili 3,000 GEL for allegedly insulting a police officer in a Facebook post.

Fines and/or Legal Designation as Offenders Under Administrative Procedures

On February 10, the Kutaisi City Court fined [8] Gela Mtivlishvili, founder of the outlet Mtis Ambebi, and two journalists from Kutaisi Post—Eka Kukhalashvili and Khvicha Vashakmadze - 5,000 GEL each. Along with other civil activists, they were accused of holding an unsanctioned protest near the home of Court of Appeals judge Malkhaz Okropirashvili. The protest was in response to the judge’s decision to deem inadmissible the appeal of Mzia Amaghlobeli.

The court has established a pattern of designating as offenders those journalists who, during protests, were themselves victims of physical violence by law enforcement officers. For example:

• On February 10, the Tbilisi City Court found Mtavari Arkhi cameraman Sergi Baramidze guilty [9] of an administrative offense and issued him a verbal warning for disobeying a police order. This stems from an incident on November 19, 2024, on Melikishvili Avenue in Tbilisi, where Baramidze was physically assaulted and unlawfully detained by law enforcement while performing his professional duties.
• On March 17, the Tbilisi City Court also found [10] Publika reporter Aleksandre Keshelashvili guilty of disobeying a police order. This was related to a protest on November 29, 2024, in front of the Parliament, where Keshelashvili was illegally detained and brutally beaten by riot police while carrying out his journalistic work. He later required facial surgery due to the injuries sustained.

Fines for “Blocking Roads”

Another harmful practice established this year by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the imposition of 5,000 GEL fines on journalists for allegedly “blocking roads” while performing their professional duties. Since January 1, 2025, Transparency International Georgia has documented more than 20 such cases. In some instances, individual journalists were fined multiple times while doing their work. For example, OC Media journalist Mariam Nikuradze has already received four such fines.

Although, under established practice, the Ministry halts proceedings once a journalist presents proof of their professional status, the mass issuance of administrative fines has a chilling effect. It creates the impression that the real goal is to impose a form of self-censorship—discouraging journalists from continuing their work out of fear of repeated financial penalties.

Amid the rise in violence against independent media and intensifying open repression, the failure to investigate crimes against journalists and the impunity of perpetrators stand out even more starkly. These patterns only encourage further abuses. Overall, the targeting of journalists is part of the ongoing repressive policy of Georgian Dream, aimed at completely clearing and erasing the space for a free press in the country. Nevertheless, in this pivotal moment for the country, Georgia’s independent media continues to actively resist the repressive policies of the violent system. Even with limited resources, these media outlets work daily to keep the public informed and to create an alternative information space that counters government propaganda. Which “Georgian Dream” is trying to obstruct through various repressive laws.