**Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking Drops Sharply in 2025 World Press Freedom Index**
The Georgian government’s crackdown on press freedom has been highlighted by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) watchdog organization. According to the RSF’s 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Georgia has dropped sharply from 103rd to 114th place.
**Violence Against Journalists and Imprisonment of Mzia Amaghlobeli**
The decline in press freedom is attributed to increasing violence against reporters and the imprisonment of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli. Speaking to Civil.ge, RSF’s head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, Jeanne Cavelier, emphasized that Amaghlobeli is being treated more harshly due to her profession. The watchdog also criticized the growing political control over the Georgian Public Broadcaster, which has become a mouthpiece for the ruling party.
**Economic Fragility and Pressure on Press Freedom**
RSF’s report highlighted the global challenges to press freedom stemming from economic fragility and pressure as major problems. In Georgia, companies are discouraged from advertising with independent media outlets, further limiting their ability to attract commercial support. The new “foreign influence” law has also restricted access to alternative funding.
**Worsening Ranking Reflects Increasing Physical Violence Against Journalists**
The worsening ranking reflects the increasing physical violence against journalists in the country. Jeanne Cavelier stated that the persistent impunity enjoyed by those who commit crimes against journalists has recently been compounded by increased violence from law enforcement against reporters covering protests since November.
**Deteriorating Media Environment in Georgia**
RSF’s report comes amid a deteriorating media environment in the country. During pro-EU rallies, many instances of violence against journalists by police were recorded. Georgia experienced the steepest surge in journalist safety alerts among Council of Europe member states, and press freedom is under severe strain.
**Commentary and Analysis**
The decline in press freedom in Georgia is a cause for concern. The increasing physical violence against journalists and the imprisonment of Mzia Amaghlobeli are emblematic of the country’s media crackdown. The growing political control over the Georgian Public Broadcaster and the restriction of access to alternative funding further limit independent media outlets’ ability to operate.
The global challenges to press freedom highlighted by RSF, including economic fragility and pressure, are indeed major problems. In Georgia, these challenges have been exacerbated by the government’s crackdown on press freedom, resulting in a worsening ranking in the World Press Freedom Index.
**Read More**
For more information on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index and the deteriorating media environment in Georgia, please visit [https://civil.ge](https://civil.ge).
