Europe Press Freedom Report: Situation in Georgia Deteriorated at ‘Alarming Rate’ in 2025
2026-03-03 - 10:45
The situation in Georgia “continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate” in 2025, the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform said in its annual Europe Press Freedom Report, published on March 3. The report, “On the Tipping Point: Press Freedom 2025,” assessed threats to the media in 46 Council of Europe member states, as well as Russia and Belarus. The assessment was based on alerts published in 2025 by 15 media freedom NGOs and journalist associations that partner with the Platform. Georgia is among the countries in focus, along with Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and Turkey. According to the report, 32 alerts concerning Georgia were submitted to the platform in 2025, a 78% increase from 2024. “The alerts reflect a broader dismantling of press freedom, driven by institutional repression, politicised law enforcement, the capture of state institutions and public service media and the erosion of effective checks and balances,” the report stated. The report reviewed several legislation adopted in 2025 by the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament, including the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which envisions fines and prison sentences for receiving foreing funding; amendments to the Law on Grants that require foreign organizations to obtain government approval before providing funds to local groups; amendments to the Law on Broadcasting that expanded the powers of the “captured” Communications Commission, the state media regulator; increased liability for defamation and insult; and a ban on photo, video, or audio recordings in courts. It also highlighted arbitrary arrests of journalists, the freezing of bank accounts of several NGOs, including press freedom groups, and concerns about the independence of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster (GPB). The report said that dismissals of journalists, program changes, restrictive editorial practices, and developments affecting funding and governance have “underscored ongoing concerns about the vulnerability of GPB’s independence and political influence.” The report gave particular attention to the case of Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder and director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, who was arrested and sentenced to two years in prison. “Her case has become emblematic of the fight for press freedom and democracy in Georgia,” the report said. The report also reviewed physical attacks on journalists by law enforcement, the imposition of fines, obstruction of their work, and confiscation of equipment, saying, “Impunity for crimes against journalists remained widespread, with investigations often insufficient and perpetrators not held accountable, particularly those from law enforcement structures.” It additionally mentioned several foreign journalists who were denied entry into Georgia. “Despite an unprecedented crackdown on the media in Georgia, independent journalists have shown remarkable resilience and continue reporting from the ground,” the report said. “However, in the absence of effective checks and balances, legal safeguards and independent institutions, journalism in the country risks becoming unsustainable without immediate international support and pressure,” it added. Also Read: 04/02/2026 – HRW: Georgia’s Human Rights Record ‘Sharply Deteriorated’ in 2025 16/01/2026 – Clooney Foundation: Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Right to Fair Trial Violated 25/11/2025 – RSF: Press Freedom Violations in Georgia Reach ‘Unprecedented’ Levels, 600 Attacks in One Year