Georgian police attack journalists covering election protests

Publika reporter Aleksandre Keshelashvili suffered a broken nose following an assault by police officers before he was detained at a Tbilisi police station, among other reported incidents of journalists being assaulted while covering pro-European Union demonstrations. (Photo: Courtesy of Publika)
Publika reporter Aleksandre Keshelashvili suffered a broken nose following an assault by police officers before he was detained at a Tbilisi police station, among other reported incidents of journalists being assaulted while covering pro-European Union demonstrations. (Photo: Courtesy of Publika)

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Georgian authorities to hold police officers accountable and ensure journalists’ safety following reports of least 50 journalists injured during violent police dispersals of pro-European Union demonstrations between November 28 and December 3.

“The protection of journalists is a hallmark of democratic societies. Georgian authorities’ failure to address the extensive and shocking police violence against journalists covering ongoing mass protests signals a clear departure from democratic values,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Georgian authorities must hold police officers to account for brutalizing members of the press and publicly commit to uphold journalist safety during the protests.”

Georgia has seen protracted mass protests since the ruling Georgian Dream party declared a  victory in the October 26 elections, which opposition parties deny.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s November 28 announcement that Georgia was suspending EU accession talks sparked even more demonstrations and a police crackdown, with local press freedom groups alleging “systematic, planned and intentional” police aggression against journalists.

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CPJ’s International Press Freedom Awards event honors fearless journalists

International Press Freedom Award honorees (beginning third from left) Quimy de Leon, Samira Sabou, and Alsu Kurmasheva, attend CPJ's IPFA event on November 21 in New York City, along with host John Oliver (left), Perrine Daubas (second from left), wife of Gwen Ifill Press Freedom awardee Christophe Deloire, CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg (second from right), and Board Chair Jacob Weisberg. Awardee Shrouq Al Aila was not allowed to leave Gaza to attend the event. (Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
International Press Freedom Award honorees (beginning third from left) Quimy de Leon, Samira Sabou, and Alsu Kurmasheva, along with host John Oliver (left), Perrine Daubas (second from left), wife of Gwen Ifill Press Freedom awardee Christophe Deloire, CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg (second from right), and Board Chair Jacob Weisberg. (Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

This year’s IPFA awardees were:

  • Palestinian journalist Shrouq Al Aila, and director of Ain Media in Gaza
  • Quimy de León, a Guatemalan journalist and co-founder of Prensa Comunitaria
  • Samira Sabou, a prominent investigative journalist in Nigeria
  • Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist and editor jailed by Russia in 2023

CPJ’s board of directors also posthumously honored Christophe Deloire, who served as director general of the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders, with the 2024 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award.


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The Committee to Protect Journalists promotes press freedom worldwide.

We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

Journalists Attacked

Myat Thu Tan

MURDERED

Myat Thu Tan, a contributor to the local news website Western News and correspondent for several independent Myanmar news outlets, was shot and killed on January 31, 2024, while in military custody in Mrauk-U in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.

He was arrested on September 22, 2022, and held in pre-trial detention under a broad provision of the penal code that criminalizes incitement and the dissemination of false news for critical posts he made on his Facebook page. Myat Thu Tan had not been tried or convicted at the time of his death.

The journalist’s body was found buried in a bomb shelter, with the bodies of six other political detainees, and showed signs of torture.

Myanmar’s military junta has cracked down on journalists and media outlets since seizing power in a February 2021 coup.

In at least 8 out of 10 cases, the murderers of journalists go free. CPJ is waging a global campaign against impunity.

journalists killed in 2024 (motive confirmed)
imprisoned in 2023
missing globally