The situation of press freedom in Georgia sharply worsened in 2025, with the country recording a 78% increase in alerts compared to the previous year, claims the annual Europe Press Freedom Report presented by the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform.
A total of 32 alerts concerning Georgia were submitted to the Platform in 2025, reflecting what the report describes as a broader dismantling of press freedom. The document cites institutional repression, politicized law enforcement, the capture of state institutions and public service media, and the erosion of effective checks and balances as key drivers of the decline.
One of the most prominent cases highlighted in the report is that of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. On August 6, 2025, following more than 200 days in pretrial detention and what the report describes as a highly politicized trial, Amaglobeli was sentenced to two years in prison. Since her arrest, both she and her media organizations have reportedly faced smear campaigns, degrading treatment and economic retaliation.
The report also points to arbitrary arrests of journalists. On November 3, 2025, Mediachecker journalist Ninia Kakabadze was detained on administrative charges of “blocking the road” while covering a rally. In October, Publika journalist Mamuka Mgaloblishvili was briefly detained on similar charges.
Legislative developments in 2025 are described as particularly concerning. On April 1, Parliament adopted a new version of the so-called “foreign agent” law, titled the Foreign Agents Registration Act, introducing obligations punishable by fines of up to GEL 25,000 (€8,250) and prison sentences of up to five years.
On June 12, amendments to the Law on Grants were adopted, requiring foreign donors to obtain prior executive approval before disbursing grants. Amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which entered into force the same month, expanded the authority of the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) to regulate factual accuracy, fairness and privacy—areas previously governed through self-regulation. The changes allow the GNCC to impose penalties of up to 3% of a broadcaster’s annual revenue or revoke its license. Authorities have already filed complaints against Formula TV and TV Pirveli under the new provisions.
Further amendments adopted in June narrowed protections under the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression and increased liability for defamation and insult. Draft changes to the Organic Law on Common Courts were also advanced, potentially restricting journalists’ ability to report from court premises by prohibiting photo, video and audio recording in and around courthouses without specific judicial authorization.
The report notes that court orders have frozen the bank accounts of several NGOs, including press freedom groups. Media organizations have also been targeted, including online outlet Project 64, the organization behind Mtis Ambebi, and the Organised Crime Research Media Centre, which runs investigative outlet iFact.
Concerns about the editorial independence of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster (GPB) also persisted. The 2025 EU enlargement policy communication stated that the broadcaster “lacks independence, has a biased editorial policy and has contributed to the promotion of anti-EU rhetoric.” GPB dismissed journalists Vasil Ivanov Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili after they raised concerns about political interference, and Zautashvili’s talk show was cancelled. Additional dismissals followed, reinforcing concerns over political influence on the broadcaster’s governance and funding.
Georgia also continued to deny entry to several foreign journalists, including British freelance reporter Will Neal, French photojournalist Jérôme Chobeaux, Italian journalist Giacomo Ferrara and Swiss photojournalist Gregor Sommer.
The report further documents dozens of physical attacks on journalists by law enforcement officers. Media workers have faced repeated fines, obstruction of their work and confiscation of equipment. Impunity for crimes against journalists remains widespread, with investigations often described as insufficient and perpetrators—particularly those linked to law enforcement—frequently not held accountable.
Despite what the report calls an unprecedented crackdown, independent journalists in Georgia have continued reporting from the ground. However, it warns that without effective checks and balances, legal safeguards and independent institutions, journalism in the country risks becoming unsustainable without immediate international support and pressure.
