Georgia / Europe & Central Asia

  
Giorgi Baskhajauri (left) and Nurlan Gahramanli (right) are two of at least four journalist who were assaulted while covering protests against Georgia's "On Transparency of Foreign Influence” bill. (Photos: Courtesy of Giorgi Baskhajauri and Nurlan Gahramanli)

Georgian police assault at least 4 journalists covering ‘foreign agents’ bill protests

Stockholm, April 19, 2024—The Georgian Parliament should reject a draft law that would designate media outlets as “foreign agents,” and the authorities should investigate allegations of police brutality against journalists, hold those responsible accountable, and protect media members reporting on the ongoing protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday. On April 17, the…

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Georgia ruling party reintroduces ‘foreign agents’ law to parliament

Stockholm, April 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s Tuesday reintroduction into the Georgian parliament of a proposed “foreign agents” law previously shelved after mass protests. “Georgian authorities’ revival of a bill that would smear media outlets as foreign-controlled is deeply concerning and utterly incompatible with their claim…

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Georgian parliament reinstates controversial powers to sanction broadcast media

Stockholm, October 30, 2023—Georgia’s president should veto legislation bolstering the state regulatory body’s powers to sanction broadcast media, and authorities should work with stakeholders to devise a regulatory framework that enjoys broad industry support, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On October 19, Georgia’s parliament passed amendments to the country’s broadcasting law extending the…

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CPJ calls for investigation into alleged poisoning of exiled Russian journalists Elena Kostyuchenko and Irina Babloyan

New York, August 16, 2023 — German and Georgian authorities should thoroughly and transparently investigate allegations that exiled Russian journalists Elena Kostyuchenko and Irina Babloyan were poisoned in 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, an investigation by the independent news website The Insider stated that both journalists had experienced unexplained health…

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In Georgia, poetry, a prison visit, and a pardon for Nika Gvaramia

On the road to Rustavi Prison #12, where the only journalist jailed in Georgia is still serving out his 3.5-year sentence, Sofia Liluashvili is speaking to me about poetry. Liluashvili is the wife of Georgian journalist Nika Gvaramia, who spent more than a year behind bars before a pardon by President Salome Zurabishvili led to…

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CPJ welcomes pardon for jailed Georgian journalist Nika Gvaramia

New York, June 22, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday welcomed news that journalist Nika Gvaramia was pardoned by Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili. Gvaramia, founder and director of independent broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi, had been serving a 3.5-year prison sentence since May 2022 for alleged abuse of office during his previous role as director of…

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CPJ, rights groups call on Georgia president to release journalist Nika Gvaramia

CPJ joined human rights and press freedom organizations to call on Georgian President Zurabishvili to release journalist Nika Gvaramia.

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Georgian parliament suspends accreditation of 6 pro-opposition journalists

Stockholm, April 14, 2023 – Georgia’s parliament should revoke its decision to suspend the accreditations of six journalists from critical news outlets and reform recently adopted accreditation regulations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Between April 3 and April 6, Georgia’s parliament suspended for one month the accreditations of three reporters and three camera…

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Georgian authorities deny entry to Russian journalist Aleksandra Shvedchenko

Paris, March 14, 2023 – Georgian authorities should allow Russian journalists to enter the country and work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Tuesday, March 14, border guards at the airport in Tbilisi, the capital, held Aleksandra Shvedchenko, a reporter with independent broadcaster Dozhd TV, for about 30 minutes before denying her…

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Georgian police beat, obstruct journalists covering protests against foreign agent law

Stockholm, March 13, 2023 – Georgian authorities should thoroughly investigate the recent obstruction of journalists covering protests and ensure members of the press can report freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Starting March 2, law enforcement officers in the capital, Tbilisi, attacked and obstructed the work of at least 14 journalists…

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