The Georgian government has shut down a state-owned English-language news outlet, Agenda.ge, established in 2013. Reportedly, the news organization has dismissed their employees, including a pregnant journalist.
The news regarding the outlet’s shutdown first emerged on February 28, when political editor Gvantsa Gabekhadze revealed in a Facebook post that she, her colleagues, and the outlet’s head had been fired. Gabekhadze, who is currently pregnant, condemned the decision, calling it a misuse of the government’s so-called ‘reorganization’ efforts, which she described as a tool of repression in the public sector.
Georgian Dream has used ‘reorganization’ many times to justify dismissals of civil servants who oppose government policies, including the controversial decision to delay Georgia’s EU accession talks until 2028.
“This is not surprising to me,” Gabekhadze wrote, arguing that the government no longer prioritizes professional and ethical public sector employees but sees them as a threat. She further criticized the government for dismissing her while promoting ‘patriotism and religion’.
