Georgia’s Future Academy

🇬🇪Georgia's Future Academy is an organization that aims to shape Georgia into a free, European country through youth education and their civic engagement🐦‍🔥

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🔺 On April 29, Georgia's Future Academy appealed to the National Communications Commission against broadcaster TV Imedi—which is sanctioned for Russian disinformation—and demands that it be held accountable for violating the obligations established by the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting.

🔺 The complaint concerns reports aired on the news program Chronika on April 20, regarding training sessions conducted by a representative of a Czech organization for Georgian organizations, and TV Imedi’s lie claiming that representatives of Georgia’s Future Academy participated in them. In reality, not a single representative of our organization was involved in the training mentioned in the reports.

🔺 Furthermore, TV Imedi representatives made no attempt to communicate with the leadership of Georgia’s Future Academy to verify information, either by phone or in writing. No representatives of the television company visited our office. Consequently, the claims made in the reports that we were “avoiding questions” or “not answering phone calls” are lies.

🔺 Additionally, Georgia’s Future Academy reaffirms its leadership's readiness to answer any questions from TV Imedi in a live broadcast format.

🔸 Georgia’s Future Academy no longer intends to leave unanswered the deliberate defamatory accusations from propaganda-driven sanctioned broadcasters controlled by the Georgian Dream regime and plans to pursue all legal avenues, both within the country and internationally.

❗️ We will continue to fight to ensure that, as a counterweight to the authoritarian aspirations of Georgian Dream, hubs of freedom are preserved in Georgia and that young people have the opportunity to receive a European civic education.

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

https://t.co/Z79ne0TjxH

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

Solidarity with Vakho Sanaia

Georgian civil society organizations consider the imprisonment of Formula TV host and journalist Vakho Sanaia alarming, as it represents yet another step taken against freedom of expression. We believe that this court decision constitutes another attempt to suppress independent media and critical voices - a practice characteristic of authoritarian regimes of the Russian and Belarusian models, where dissenting and critical opinions are viewed as the main enemy and target by authoritarian leaders. It is evident that the Georgian Dreamgovernment is meticulously copying and implementing the worst practices of Russia, attempting to normalize a reality in which people are punished for expressing their personal opinions and views.

On 22 July, sanctioned judge Zviad Tsekvava sentencedVakho Sanaia to 14 days of administrative detention over a social media post. This is the first case in which a citizen has been placed under administrative detention based on a post published on social media. Prior to this, Sanaia was fined GEL 6,000 for the same reason.

It is evident that independent media and every critical voice represent a significant obstacle for the Georgian Dreamgovernment, as they expose alleged corruption and other possible criminal links involving government officials and individuals affiliated with the ruling party, while informing the public about systemic problems within state institutions. Instead of investigating actual crimes and ensuring that responsible individuals are held accountable, the Georgian Dreamgovernment is engaged in persecuting whistleblowers and using repressive laws adopted by itself to silence them. In this context, independent and critical media remain a particular target of the authorities, against which the entire state repressive apparatus is mobilized.

For years, law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, the Communications Commission, and the Parliament have been turned into instruments used by the Georgian Dreamgovernment to fight against independent media and journalists and to silence them. Through coordinated attacks and the use of repressive mechanisms, the Georgian Dream government is attempting to ultimately neutralize critical media and remove it from the public sphere.

Article 173¹⁶ of the Code of Administrative Offences, under which Vakho Sanaia was sentenced to administrative detention, was added to the Code by the Georgian Dream-controlledParliament in February 2025 by expedited procedure and it was negatively assessed by OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission.. A special unit was established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs to enforce this provision, which has been ironically referred to by the public as the “scrolling-and-screenshotting department.”

We express our solidarity with Vakho Sanaia critical media outlets and all journalists who have become targets of the Georgian Dream government’s repressive policies in recent years. Independent media is providing an invaluable service to the country at this critically important moment, ensuring that the public remains properly informed despite operating under severely limited resources.

[Krzysztof Brejza @krzysztofbrejza]

A journalist in Georgia, Vakho Sanaia, has been jailed for 14 days over a Facebook post.

The Georgian Dream regime has established authoritarianism. The EU cannot stay silent. @vonderleyen @MartaKosEU @kajakallas - it is time for strong and decisive action!

[Rasa Juknevičienė @RJukneviciene]

Sentencing journalist Vakho Sanaia to 14 days in detention for a Facebook post shows how rapidly Georgia is sliding into Kremlin-style repression.

At this pace, Bidzina Ivanishvili will soon surpass his masters in Moscow.

EU must react on this.

Solidary with Vakho Sanaia!

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

@francediplo @ecpa_d Happy National Day, 🇫🇷

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🇫🇷 Georgia’s Future Academy wishes a happy National Day to our French friends and partners!

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day to the United States of America!

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we extend our warmest congratulations to the American people. This historic milestone celebrates the enduring values of freedom, democracy, human dignity, and opportunity—principles that continue to inspire people around the world.

At a time when Georgia faces significant democratic challenges, friendship and solidarity with the United States are especially meaningful. We are deeply grateful for the longstanding support that the American people and institutions have provided to Georgia and its civil society.

For many years, the United States has stood alongside those working to strengthen democracy, protect fundamental freedoms, and advance Georgia’s development and prosperity. American support has enabled initiatives such as Georgia’s Future Academy’s #IDEBATE and many other educational and youth empowerment programmes that have strengthened civic engagement and created opportunities for thousands of young people across Georgia.

Today, we celebrate not only America’s independence, but also the shared values and enduring friendship that unite our nations.

We wish the American people peace, prosperity, and continued success.

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

On June 19, 2019, Ivanishvili’s regime allowed Sergei Gavrilov, a member of the Russian State Duma, to take the Speaker’s chair in the Parliament of Georgia. This was the very seat once held by Georgia's first president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Allowing a representative of a hostile nation—one that continues to occupy more than 20% of Georgia’s territory—to hold that seat was a profound insult.

This blatant disregard for the dignity of Georgian citizens sparked immediate public outrage. That same evening, tens of thousands of patriots poured onto Rustaveli Avenue in protest.

On the night of June 20, the regime used unlawful force to crush the peaceful demonstration. Hundreds of people were injured, and several lost their sight.

Today, seven years later, the anniversary of those events serves as a stark reminder that defending freedom, democracy, and national dignity demands constant vigilance. Back then, citizens took to the streets to declare that they would never accept occupation or humiliation. Today, that very same struggle continues—for freedom, a European future, and a Georgia where the dignity of its people is fiercely protected.

[Krzysztof Brejza @krzysztofbrejza]

🇬🇪W Parlamencie Europejskim w Strasburgu apel Andrzeja Poczobuta o uwolnienie przez reżim gruziński dziennikarki wolnych mediów Mzii Amaghlobelii

[Rasa Juknevičienė @RJukneviciene]

After 10 months of unlawful detention, @Helenkhosh risks irreversible harm without treatment.

@Europarl_EN has recognised her degrading conditions & need for specialised care.

Georgian authorities ignore requests for a treatment plan. That's political persecution.

Free Elene!

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

See GFA’s Executive Director @KapanadzeMarine’s reflection featured in the new Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights Annual Report 👇

https://t.co/71LBM4XMX6

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🔸 The first week of the Maro Makashvili and Shalva Eristavi cohort of the Order of the Phoenix has been successfully completed. On June 13-14, participants attended lectures on important topics such as economics without numbers, Georgia's place in the modern world, the limitations of human rights, and the dynamics of power.

💥 In addition to the lectures, the newcomers participated in icebreakers and team-building games during their first weekend. The first week of lectures was packed with fun group exercises and interactive activities, which helped the participants get to know each other better and develop new skills.

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

The American flag represents freedom, liberty, justice, and the will of a nation to become something greater for 250 years and counting.

On this Flag Day, stand in unity with our homeland, honor our fallen heroes, and salute the greatest mark of freedom anywhere in the world.🇺🇸

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

From May 31st to June 3rd, GFA Chairman Alexander Zibzibadze and Executive Director Mari Kapanadze represented our organization at the prestigious Oslo Freedom Forum, hosted by the @HRF.

This premier global platform brings together top policymakers, human rights defenders, journalists, and technologists to address the world's most pressing civic challenges.

We were thrilled to see our Executive Director, @KapanadzeMarine, featured on a panel discussing a critical issue facing our region: democratic backsliding and escalating repression.

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

Representing Georgia's Future Academy at the Europe Liberty Forum 2026, organized by the @AtlasNetwork, was a profound honor for our team. Joining a network of freedom advocates, global leaders, and innovators, we gained invaluable insights to further our mission!

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🔸 The fifth week of the Order of the Phoenix Akaki Tsereteli and Barbare Jorjadze cohort has been successfully completed. Over the course of five weeks, participants developed essential modern-day skills by attending lectures and taking part in practical exercises, including critical thinking, public speaking, and more. The educational program went beyond simply acquiring knowledge—participants also built friendships and connected with mentors who will continue to support them in their personal and professional development.

🐦‍🔥 The Order of the Phoenix is a place for young people who are eager to grow and develop!

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🔶Listen to Alexander Zibzibadze, the founder and chairman of Georgia’s Future Academy at TV kavkasia. He discusses how Georgia, once a strategic partner of the United States, got completely left out from the ongoing projects in the Caucasus region.

https://t.co/PhcrRASsio

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

Happy Independence Day, Georgia 🇬🇪

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

@LithuaniaMFA @VitkauskasDar @LTEmbassyGe Thank you, Lithuania!

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

https://t.co/8ArHUNwQnQ

[Georgia’s Future Academy @GFA_Official_]

🔸Listen to the founder and chairman of Georgia’s Future Academy, Alexander Zibzibadze on TV Kavkasia.

👇 See the link: