Democracy on the Edge: Georgia’s Media and Political Crackdown

Long celebrated as a model of press freedom in the post-Soviet region, Georgia is now facing a dramatic erosion of journalistic autonomy. Under the current Georgian Dream administration, independent media, opposition figures, and civil society organizations have come under intense pressure through arrests, intimidation, and restrictive legislation, driving the country toward the brink of authoritarian rule.

Among the people who fight for freedom and oppose the growing authoritarian regime is bravest Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti. She was detained on January 11, 2025 and  on 4th of August, 2025 was sentenced to two years in jail after the court reclassified charges against her from “attack on a police officer” to “resistance, threat, or violence against an official.” Amaghlobeli’s supporters deem the verdict unfair, yet she stood firmly, telling the court, “Whatever decision you make today, I want you to know that I consider myself a winner.”

Eyewitnesses and video evidence contradict authorities’ claims that she disobeyed police orders. Her detention highlights the troubling erosion of judicial independence and the selective enforcement of justice. The Georgian Dream party is increasingly targeting anything independent—particularly those who fight for truth.

The Media Under Siege

Independent media in Georgia has only recently emerged as a key source of information, largely in urban centers. With internet access reaching just 52.9% of the population in 2025, nearly half of Georgians—particularly in rural areas—still rely on television, leaving them exposed to state-influenced messaging.

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has faced relentless public criticism. Since November 28, 2024, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of EU accession talks until 2028, protesters have gathered outside GPB, accusing it of serving as a mouthpiece for the ruling party.

Keti Kapanadze, former producer of the GPB program Realuri Sivrtse, reflected, “What is happening at the Public Broadcaster is heartbreaking. For a decade, our mission was to foster constructive dialogue and find solutions together. We covered rural infrastructure, children with Down syndrome, and environmental issues. Now the program has ended, and the entire team was dismissed in April 2025.”

The personal cost of media repression is epitomized by Mzia Amaghlobeli. Irma Dimitradze, journalist and communications manager at Batumelebi/Netgazeti, explained, “Mzia’s health is worsening daily. She endured a 38-day hunger strike and later wrote, ‘I do not want my hunger to weaken you—you must fight in my place.’ For an increasingly autocratic regime, controlling independent media is crucial. Journalists who expose corruption and challenge official narratives pose a direct threat to those in power.”

The crackdown on journalists in Georgia has escalated the last November. Mindia Gabadze, a photographer for Publika, recounted a harrowing experience while reporting on a protest: he was attacked by “titushkas,” civilians allegedly hired to intimidate media, while police stood by without intervening.

Aleksandre Keshelashvili, also from Publika, suffered brutal treatment during another demonstration, ending up in the hospital with a broken nose after being arrested and beaten, despite video evidence contradicting the authorities’ claims. The police and judiciary offered little accountability, highlighting the climate of impunity surrounding violence against journalists.

Independent media faces more than physical threats. Mariam Nikuradze, founder of OC Media, has been fined 20,000 GEL for documenting protests. She said, “The erosion of media freedom is closely linked to Georgian Dream’s political path. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some landlords refused to rent office space to us, afraid of being associated with independent reporting. Authoritarian regimes often use intimidation and blackmail against media—Georgia’s decline started in 2021 and has sped up ever since.”

International watchdogs have sounded the alarm. Reporters Without Borders observed, “The adoption of laws targeting ‘foreign influence’ and ‘family values’ marginalizes journalists, imposes censorship, and drastically narrows the space for free expression.”

Legalizing Authoritarianism

Rather than using force, Georgian Dream weaponized legislation. The “foreign agents” law requires any entity receiving over 20% of funding from abroad to register as acting in the interest of a foreign power, subject to monitoring, blacklisting, and fines. A harsher version, modeled after the U.S. FARA law, introduced prison terms and gave the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption bureau unchecked discretion.

Broadcasting regulations now empower the government to impose “coverage standards” and ban foreign funding. Independent outlets such as Formula and Mtavari faced lawsuits for using critical language. Reporters’ access to parliament is restricted, and online media are often excluded from streaming or photographing court sessions, reserved primarily for the Public Broadcaster.

The crackdown on opposition followed the October 2024 parliamentary elections. Leaders of opposition parties, including Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, Zurab Japaridze, and Giorgi Vashadze, received prison sentences ranging from seven to eight months and bans from holding public office. Tamta Mikeladze, director of the Social Justice Centre, warned, “This is not just about destroying one political camp—it is the abolition of political space itself.”

Protests were criminalized. Participants are prohibited from wearing face coverings, carrying laser pointers, fireworks, or entering buildings without permission. Mate Devidze, a 21-year-old protester, received a 4.6-year sentence for allegedly assaulting police. Even poets like Zviad Ratiani have been detained.

Gabadze explained, “Despite evidence, titushkas go unpunished, and police ignore assaults. Journalists and protesters are vulnerable, and online media are not considered real media. The rules are clear: independent reporting is a risk.”

Rewriting Democratic Rules

Georgian Dream also altered electoral laws, giving the ruling party simple majority control over the Central Electoral Commission, reducing transparency and observer access. Civil society now requires government approval to receive foreign grants, effectively undermining NGO independence.

Marginalized communities face targeted repression. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation bans so-called “LGBT propaganda,” eliminates gender-affirming healthcare, and erases gender quotas and references from official documents. These measures consolidate ideological control while shrinking civic space.

Giga Bekauri, a representative of an independent trade union, offered perspective on the country’s trajectory: “Georgia has seen both the height of its democratic progress and one of its most severe political crises. Over the past two to three years, signs of creeping authoritarianism became visible. The past six months, in particular, represent a deliberate push toward consolidating power. Whether this will crystallize into a fully authoritarian system remains to be seen.”

Courage in the Face of Repression

Despite mounting repression, civic determination persists. Protests go on, journalists continue their work under significant personal risk, and citizens remain committed to transparency, justice, and democratic principles. Irma Dimitradze highlighted, “Every court session for Mzia or anyone else exposes how this regime spreads into every social, political, and cultural sphere. Truly independent spaces are vanishing, but the struggle continues.”

“It is 260+ days, that I am standing on Rustaveli avenue almost every day. Sometimes I won’t to unwind from the political weight.”- says 29 years old female activist. ” We still have a time and possibility to protest. I prefer to use this opportunity, because maybe it will be late soon.”

Maria Ressa, CEO of the Philippine digital outlet Rappler, warns globally: “Now is the moment to stand up. We must show people where the line is and ensure governments do not cross it—because once they do, democracy itself is lost.”

While fear may dominate Georgia today, courage drives its people. Journalists, political figures, artists, and ordinary citizens keep resisting, challenging society to defend democracy before it’s too late.