According to Transparency International – Georgia, based on the legislation adopted by “Georgian Dream,” in the last 10 days, 11 representatives of the media have been detained under administrative procedures, and one journalist had their freedom unlawfully restricted for a short period.
As stated in the information released by the organization, around 25 such cases have been recorded over the past year.
“Based on the repressive legislation adopted by ‘Georgian Dream,’ which effectively prohibits citizens’ free assembly and violates the fundamental right to protest, in the last 10 days, 11 representatives of independent, critical media have been detained under administrative procedures, and one journalist had their freedom unlawfully restricted for a short period. Over the past year, around 25 such cases have been recorded.
Transparency International – Georgia strongly condemns the mass persecution and detention of independent media representatives and considers this a continuation of ‘Georgian Dream’s’ repressive policy toward the media, as well as another step toward suppressing freedom of speech.
Among those detained are: Vako Sanaia, anchor and journalist at TV Formula. The judge imposed a 6-day administrative detention on him. He has already left detention. Keta Tsitskishvili, anchor and journalist at TV Formula. After a 5-day administrative detention, she has already left detention. Tsira Zhvania, social media manager at TV Formula. She has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention. Journalist Irakli Tsulaia. The judge sentenced him to 8 days of administrative detention. Lika Basilaya-Shavgulidze, a member of the Public Broadcaster’s supervisory board and journalist. She has been sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention. Azerbaijani investigative journalist Afgan Sadigov. He has been sentenced to 14 days of administrative detention. Vasil Ivanov-Chikovan, a journalist and anchor dismissed from the Public Broadcaster. He has been sentenced to 7 days of administrative detention. Journalist Maiko Bokeria. She was released on a 5,000 GEL fine. Maiko Bokeria was detained along with her husband, Vasil Ivanov-Chikovan. Giorgi Liponava, founder and director of TV Formula. He was sentenced to 3 days of administrative detention. He has already left detention. Zviad Kvaratskhelia, writer, editor, and anchor at TV Formula. He was sentenced to 3 days of administrative detention. He has already left detention. Nika Pataraia, operator for TV Formula’s program ‘Times.’ He was sentenced to 4 days of administrative detention. Additionally, on October 24, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs unlawfully restricted the freedom of Basti Mgaloblishvili, a journalist from the online publication ‘Publika,’ for approximately one hour. Upon release, he was told that he had been mistaken for someone else,” the organization’s statement reads.
Transparency International – Georgia: Based on the repressive legislation adopted by ‘Georgian Dream,’ in the last 10 days, 11 representatives of independent media have been detained under administrative procedures
