Monday, March 16, 2026

Azerbaijani RFE/RL journalist detained, barred from leaving country

Kamran Mahmudov (right) with Afgan Mukhtarli, another Azerbaijani journalist whose abduction in Tbilisi in May caused outrage
Kamran Mahmudov (right) pictured next to his Azerbaijani colleague Afgan Mukhtarli, whose abduction in Tbilisi in May caused a public outcry in Georgia. (Facebook.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A journalist at Radio Free Europe’s now closed office in Azerbaijan was detained on Thursday and told that he cannot leave the country.

Kamran Mahmudov, a former producer for RFE/RL, was detained at the border on the way into Georgia and taken to the

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Georgian PM proposes creating new media ombudsman post

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PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s prime minister proposes creating an office of media ombudsman.

The PM’s proposal comes at the same time as the situation surrounding a lawsuit about the country’s most popular TV company remains in a deadlock.

After a meeting with PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili

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Georgia's embattled TV station Rustavi 2 plans new rally on Saturday

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A scene from the February 19 rally. (Rustavi 2.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Embattled Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 plans another rally in Tbilisi on Saturday to protest what it claims is an attempt by authorities to silence free speech in the country.

On March 3, Georgia’s Supreme Court upheld a decision to change ownership of Rustavi 2.

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Georgia Supreme Court upholds decision to change Rustavi 2 ownership

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Rustavi 2 director Nika Gvaramia. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Supreme Court in the former Soviet republic of Georgia has controversially upheld a decision to take away ownership of the country’s biggest opposition TV channel and hand it to a private investor. Critics say the decision will effectively silence

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Georgia Supreme Court begins review of Rustavi 2 case Thursday

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Rustavi 2’s director Nika Gvaramia. (Palitra TV.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Supreme Court in the former Soviet republic of Georgia on Thursday begins to review a highly publicised lawsuit about the ownership over the country’s biggest TV channel.

The case concerns who shall control 100 percent of shares in Rustavi 2,

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