May 3 marks World Press Freedom Day. On the 520th day of continuous protests, a “March for the Media” was held in Tbilisi on May 2, beginning at the Philharmonic Hall and ending at the Government Chancellery building.
Georgia has dropped from 114th to 135th place in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index over the past year, now ranking behind states including Zimbabwe, Somalia, Uganda, Mali, Nigeria, Chad and Papua New Guinea.
The 135th position places Georgia in the category where press freedom is assessed as “difficult.” “Against the backdrop of the ongoing democratic crisis and protests, as well as strict measures taken against their coverage, Georgia has dropped 21 positions in the index,” the organization states in its 2026 report.
On the occasion, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) released a statement assessing the working environment of journalists and expressing solidarity with the media.
“Press freedom in Georgia is at extremely high risk. The media operates in a reality marked by the consolidation of authoritarianism, characterized by the systematic narrowing of civic space, the creation of a restrictive legislative environment for media activities, and the formation of hostile conditions for journalists,” the organization states.
GYLA also states that Georgia is not a safe environment for journalists to carry out their professional duties. It points to cases of mass violence against media representatives during the November–December 2024 protests, noting that no one has been held accountable to date.
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