Friday, December 5, 2025

Georgia upholds two year prison term for editor who slapped police chief

TBILISI, November 19 – A Georgian appeals court has upheld a two year prison sentence for editor Mzia Amaghlobeli. Amaghlobeli is the founder of two independent outlets, Netgazeti and Batumelebi. On 6 August she was convicted under Article 353, part one, of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers resistance, threats or violence against a law enforcement … Read more

Scuffles erupt as police detain further 20 at protest for jailed journalists

TBILISI, October 22 – Police detained around 20 protesters on Wednesday evening during renewed clashes outside Georgia’s parliament in Tbilisi. The solidarity rally for jailed journalists was held amid steady stream of detentions in recent days, and turned tense when demonstrators again blocked Rustaveli Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare. According to the Ministry of Internal … Read more

European Parliament honors imprisoned journalists from Georgia and Belarus

TBILISI, October 22 – Two imprisoned journalists from Georgia and Belarus have been named the winners of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Parliament’s top human rights award. Announcing the decision in Strasbourg, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised their courage, saying that example shown by Georgia’s Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of … Read more

Tbilisi court jails TV anchor Vakho Sanaia for six days over protest

TBILISI, October 19 – A Tbilisi court on Sunday sentenced journalist and TV anchor Vakho Sanaia to six days in administrative detention after finding him guilty of violating Georgia’s law on public assemblies. Judge Manuchar Tsatsua ruled that Sanaia, a prominent presenter on opposition-leaning broadcaster Formula TV, was guilty of blocking traffic during a protest … Read more

Georgia detains news anchor day ahead of EU meeting

TBILISI, October 19 – A well-known Georgian journalist and TV anchor, Vakho Sanaia, was detained by police in central Tbilisi on Sunday, his employer Formula TV reported. A Video circulating on social media showed Sanaia entering a police car, with bystanders filming. Formula said the journalist was detained for allegedly blocking Rustaveli Avenue, where opposition … Read more

Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli shortlisted for EU’s top human rights award

TBILISI, October 16 – Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder of the independent outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, has been shortlisted for the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, one of Europe’s highest honors for human rights and free expression. Amaghlobeli shares the finalist list with Andrzej Poczobut, a Belarusian journalist currently imprisoned in Belarus. … Read more

45-minute TV blackout investigated as possible sabotage

TBILISI, October 13 – Georgia’s State Security Service has launched an investigation into possible sabotage after one of the country’s leading broadcasters, TV Imedi, and two affiliated channels suddenly went off the air for nearly an hour on Monday. According to the agency’s statement, the investigation began following a formal request from TV Imedi. The … Read more

Watchdog claims 180 cases of pressure against journalists in 2025

TBILISI, October 8 – A new report from Transparency International Georgia (TIG) claims that attacks, intimidation, and restrictions against journalists have sharply increased in 2025, with over 180 cases recorded between January and September, more than half in the last five months. The watchdog says this marks a worsening environment for independent and critical media, … Read more

Jailed Georgian journalist nominated for Sakharov Prize

TBILISI, September 23 – A Georgian journalist facing trial has been nominated for the European Parliament’s top human rights award. Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the independent news outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, was put forward for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at a joint session of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs and development committees, … Read more

Jailed Georgian editor wins European media prize

TBILISI, September 9 – A Georgian editor jailed after slapping a police chief during a protest has been named one of six winners of Europe’s Free Media Award, given by Norway’s Fritt Ord Foundation and Germany’s ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius. Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, has become a symbol of Georgia’s embattled … Read more