Georgia: Several journalists injured in Tbilisi protest

At least 11 journalists were attacked in Tbilisi, while reporting on a large anti-government protest on 4 October. Among them, several were injured. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the Georgian government to condemn law enforcement interference in journalists' work.

A protester waves a Georgian and a European Union flags in front of riot police during an opposition rally on the day of local elections in central Tbilisi on October 4, 2025. Credit: Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP

On 4 October, a large anti-government protest took place in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, in parallel with the partial boycott of the country's municipal elections. This event was the culmination of anti-government upheavals that have been taking place for months, since the ruling party, 'Georgian Dream' (officially Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia), announced its geopolitical U-turn on the European Union.

Some of the protesters attempted to enter the presidential residence and were repelled by riot police with teargas and water cannon. This led to clashes with the guards, during which many journalists were physically and verbally attacked.

According to the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), at least 11 media workers were involved.

Keti Tutberidze, for instance, an investigative journalist for Studio Monitori, was accosted by two criminal police officers. They attempted to seize her smartphone, while she was trying to film the protesters' arrests.

Two journalists from TV Pirveli, the government-critical TV channel in Georgia, were also injured. Camera operator Niko Kokaia was harmed twice while covering events at the rally, while a teargas canister was intentionally fired at Irakli Bakhtadze, a journalist for the same channel.

Giorgi Diasamidze, a journalist for Radio Tavisupleba, was also assaulted by police officers, despite repeatedly identifying himself as a member of the press.

Photojournalist Mariam Giunashvili suffered severe burns from the pepper spray that the officers used on the protesters.

Moreover, three other media workers - Shalva Sumbadze, Nika Tsirikidze, and Vakho Lekiashvili - from the filming crew of Moambe, a news programme of the pro-government Georgian Public Broadcaster, were also injured due to the use of pepper spray by the protesters.

Several journalists from independent outlets lost control of the drones they were using to document the demonstration, due to the police officers' extensive interference with journalists' reporting there.

The IFJ and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have been reporting press freedom violations to the Council of Europe's Platform. Right now, there are 30 alerts active for Georgia, which demonstrate how the state of press freedom in the country is progressively deteriorating.

Pressure on journalism is mounting in Georgia, and this is especially evident in the run-up to the elections. The caseof Giacomo Ferrara, an Italian journalist blocked by Georgian authorities at the border with Armenia on 29 September, is just one of the latest cases in which a journalist has been denied access to the country. Ferrara was asked to pay a fine of GEL 5,000 (about €1,550) for "blocking the road" during a protest he was reporting on 31 March.

The journalist's refusal to pay the fine, of which he was unaware, resulted in his being denied the opportunity to reach Tbilisi to document the protest for the Italian daily newspaper "La Ragione".

The same type of accusation has been directed at several other journalists, including, on 28 September, the Swiss photojournalist Gregor Sommer.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "In these crucial times for Georgia, journalists must be able to carry out their functions freely and independently. The deliberate targeting of our colleagues, aimed at preventing them from doing their job, is unacceptable and a clear breach of press freedom principles. We stand in full solidarity with all journalists and independent media workers who risk their safety and lives to report the truth."