The undersigned media freedom, journalists, and freedom of expression organisations strongly condemn the intensifying crackdown on Georgian journalists and press freedom defenders, who continue to face institutional repression and physical attacks.
As the Georgian Dream (GD) regime’s prime minister explicitly promises to stifle dissent, we reiterate our urgent call for the European Union and the international community to respond forcefully to the ruling party’s clampdown on media and civil society.
Media freedom in Georgia remains dire and continues to deteriorate. At least 11 journalists from both independent and government-controlled media were targeted during the anti-government demonstration on 4 October, which took place as local municipal elections – partially boycotted by the opposition – got underway.
While the prosecutor’s office has reportedly opened an investigation into the the pro-government public broadcaster and the government-controlled outlet Imedi TV obstructing journalists’ professional activities, they have yet to launch investigations have into attacks specifically targeting independent media. This selective approach to justice is highly alarming and deepens long-standing impunity for crimes against journalists in Georgia.
In addition, the authorities have increased institutional pressure and tightened their grip on media and civil society, including groups supporting independent media. Georgian authorities have launched inquiries into independent online media outlets and media freedom organisations based on a law regarding grants, which, following amendments in April, prohibits outlets from receiving foreign grants without government approval.
Targeted media organisations include Project 64, an organisation that operates Mtis Ambebi (Mountain Stories), the Organized Crime Research Media Centre, which runs investigative newsroom iFact, and the Governance Monitoring Center (GMC). The latter manages two media projects: Plangvis Detektori (Squander Detector), focusing on corruption and public governance issues, and Realpolitika, an online media outlet covering international politics.
According to reports, over 60 media and civil society groups were ordered to disclose donor and grant information. The Anti-Corruption Bureau demanded contracts, budgets, work plans, and implementation reports, giving only three business days for groups to comply. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics (GCJE), a media self-regulation body and a de-facto union of journalists, was also targeted.
In September, up to 30 organisations, including the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Media Center Kakheti, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA ), Rights Georgia, Civic Idea, and the Human Rights Center, received similar letters.
Despite objections over their legal basis, the Tbilisi City Court upheld the bureau’s motions against nine organisations on 17 September.
These inspections follow earlier rounds, in June and August 2025, when authorities used Georgia’s ‘foreign agents’ law to demand sensitive data and freeze accounts of groups accused of supporting protests.
Our organisations welcome the statement by EU Vice President Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos condemning Georgian Dream’s crackdown on Georgia’s media and civil society and now urge words to be met with concrete actions.
While we expect the clampdown on media to intensify in the coming months, we reiterate our call for stronger pressure on the Georgian Dream regime, including additional targeted sanctions. Without external support and solidarity, Georgian media and civil society will not be able to survive.
Signed:
International Press Institute (IPI)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
ARTICLE 19 Europe
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
OBC Transeuropa
Free Press Unlimited