A new department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) began operating on June 1, 2026, tasked with what the ministry describes as “systematic monitoring” of public communication targeting “hate speech, offensive campaigns and aggressive communication.”
The ministry says the new unit will initially employ 10 staff members.
Earlier, on May 20, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said that candidates’ experience would be a key factor in staffing the department.
“The emphasis will be on current employees who have experience, and we will accumulate these personnel from various units,” Darakhvelidze said.
On May 18, it was announced that the Ministry of Internal Affairs planned to establish a department to monitor “hate speech, offensive campaigns and aggressive communication” in public spaces and take legal action where necessary.
Critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party say the creation of such a unit could be used to restrict freedom of speech under the pretext of combating “hate speech.”
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Georgia’s MIA to create “systematic monitoring” department for public communication
