TBILISI, January 25 – A coalition of media advocacy groups in Georgia has called on the country’s High Council of Justice to provide safe and properly equipped working spaces for journalists covering court proceedings, warning that reporters are being forced to work in harsh and unsafe conditions.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Media Advocacy Coalition said independent journalists in Georgia face “inhumane” working conditions, particularly when covering high-profile court cases. The group blamed the situation on institutional indifference and a lack of accountability for violence and pressure against media workers.
According to the statement, conditions have worsened since restrictions were introduced banning photo, video, and audio recording inside court buildings and courtyards. As a result, journalists and camera operators are often forced to work outside court entrances for hours at a time, regardless of weather.
The coalition said reporters routinely cover hearings from the street, standing in freezing winter temperatures or extreme summer heat, often from early morning until late evening. It added that there is no technically suitable space where journalists can perform their work safely or meet basic professional standards.
The group warned that the lack of proper facilities creates serious health and safety risks for media workers and directly affects the public’s access to information, especially during trials that draw high public interest.
The statement stressed that the problem goes beyond professional inconvenience. It described the current situation as evidence that independent journalists in Georgia are working under conditions that threaten their physical wellbeing, while restrictions on media access continue unchecked.
Despite these challenges, the coalition noted that independent outlets continue to cover court proceedings daily, underlining both the pressure facing the media sector and its role in keeping the public informed.
The Media Advocacy Coalition urged the High Council of Justice to take responsibility for ensuring journalists have a safe and adequately equipped working environment, saying this is essential for the media to carry out its professional duties.
