@MediaFreedomEU partners warn that 🇬🇪 continues moving toward a fully consolidated authoritarian regime, as the Georgian Dream party intensified efforts during the reporting period to curtail media freedom and silence independent voices.🔗https://t.co/Q1f2Mz874C
🇬🇪 IPI is disturbed by the detention of Saba Sordia, a journalist with the independent media organization @Indigo_com_ge. We stand in solidarity with @Indigo_com_ge and Sordia, and demand his immediate release.
https://t.co/LtOtsQFfZ5
Journalists at @GPBroadcaster face political persecution. @GeorgianDream41 -affiliated Board members are pushing prosecutors to target ethical reporters exposing GPB's propaganda & disinformation. MAC urges @EBU_HQ & intl partners to take action!🔗https://t.co/vMtlORjcK0
Journalists at @GPBroadcaster face political persecution. @GeorgianDream41 -affiliated Board members are pushing prosecutors to target ethical reporters exposing GPB's propaganda & disinformation. MAC urges @EBU_HQ & intl partners to take action!🔗https://t.co/xImCwQJNzD
#OnThisDay 50 years ago, the Twinning Partnership #Saarbrücken - #Tbilisi was signed - connecting people. Today it is suffering because of the democratic backsliding in 🇬🇪, that 🇩🇪 & EU have certified. 🇩🇪 will continue to build links with 🇬🇪 people. ⬇️ https://t.co/1Pm4s9oqnB
We condemn the suspension of Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani from hosting the news program on 🇬🇪Public Broadcaster, a journalist committed to Georgia's European aspirations. We call on the @EBU_HQ to investigate censorship at the broadcaster.
Full Statement: https://t.co/BpSFHdppY5
Today, the court upheld Mzia Amaglobeli's unlawful pre-trial detention, exposing the political persecution by Ivanishvili's regime and an attack on media. Mzia remains strong despite her unjust imprisonment and has started a hunger strike. #FreeMzia 🔗https://t.co/qPTuyrUhdq
🇬🇪#Georgia: IPI strongly condemns the brutal attack on veteran journalist and head of the regional offices at @TIGeorgiaGeo Zviad Koridze.
https://t.co/jBGm7JUmV4
#mediastrike in 🇬🇪Independent TV stations across Georgia have suspended broadcasting since 17:00, and online media have paused their operations, displaying solidarity banners in support of Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of @Batumelebi_ge , and all political prisoners #freemzia
#Georgia: RSF calls for an impartial investigation into the detentions of Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder and director of @Batumelebi_ge and @netgazeti, and Batumebeli cameraman Guram Murvanidze. They must be immediately released. https://t.co/Ru2xA0TfjL
The regime of @GeorgianDream41 intensifies its crackdown on independent media in the regions🇬🇪. Following the detention of @Batumelebi_ge Director yesterday, their photographer has been detained this evening during pro-European protests. 🔗 https://t.co/3yETQBNFPz #FreeMedia
MAC responds to the illegal detention of Mzia Amaghlobeli, Director of @Batumelebi_ge. She was re-arrested just minutes after her release following hours of unjust detention—all occurring today. We demand her immediate release! #MediaFreedom 🇬🇪
🔗https://t.co/ceK9fZPkL1
I am grateful to lead this statement of the International Friends of Georgia. We call on all free governments to refrain from senior meetings with the Ivanishvili regime until it agrees to hold free and fair elections. We also call for unified sanctions against the regime.
Today, 🇩🇪 has issued entry bans for 9 people mainly responsible for the violence against protesters and opposition members in #Georgia. The right to protest peacefully is one of the universal human rights - it is our responsibility to protect it. 1/2
STATEMENT ON THE HOME RAIDS OF TWO ATLANTIC COUNCIL STAFF IN GEORGIA:
From Graham Brookie, the Atlantic Council’s vice president for technology programs and strategy, as well as the senior director of the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab):
On the morning of October 24, officials from the Investigative Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Finance raided the homes of two staff members of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab in Tbilisi, Georgia, confiscating their electronic devices. They were not detained and have not been charged by Georgian authorities.
The Atlantic Council is deeply concerned about this development and its impact on our staff’s work shortly before Georgian elections. Our Georgian colleagues, Sopo Gelava and Eto Buziashvili, are engaged in independent, non-partisan work aimed at defending and strengthening democracy from those who would undermine it in online spaces, including research related to foreign influence efforts, the targeting of marginalized communities, and other online harms.
We trust that Georgian authorities will provide more clarity on their actions, ensure the safety and security of our staff, return their property, and allow them to continue their contributions to Georgian democracy.
The Atlantic Council has long been a champion of a democratic and independent Georgia and its aspirations to join the institutions of the transatlantic community. The Digital Forensic Research Lab publishes research that highlights the importance of discourse and objective information as a foundation of free, open, and democratic countries.
The Atlantic Council will continue its work in Georgia in the spirit of its mission of shaping the global future together with partners and allies. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The Georgian people have chosen the European path and in response, the European Council granted #Georgia the candidate status last December.
Let me be clear: the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence is not consistent with Georgia’s EU aspiration and its accession trajectory and will bring Georgia further away from the EU and not closer.