Reporters Without Borders calls on the EU to take action against impunity of Georgian authorities
More than 70 representatives of the independent press have been attacked while covering protests in Georgia, some of them repeatedly. Cases of beatings, the use of water cannons and tear gas, obstruction of work, insults and damage to property, arrests, etc. have been recorded, according to a report by the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The authors are shocked by this situation and strongly condemn the systematic use of violence by Georgian law enforcement officers. RSF calls on the European Union to take action "against the impunity enjoyed by the security forces, which threatens Georgian democracy."
According to the report, half of the injured journalists were wounded, several received chemical burns and serious injuries. Some of them need weeks to recover before they can return to work. It is also noted that the first two nights of demonstrations were particularly brutal – they accounted for almost half of the 87 cases documented by RSF based on documentation from local organisations. Moreover, in the last week, members of parliament from the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, elected on 26 October through fraudulent elections, have been rushing to introduce legislative amendments that further intensify repression.
The Georgian Dream party is a nightmare for democracy and the media, which exposes its actions to suppress freedom. The complete impunity of the police and the new laws seriously threaten the right to reliable information. Beyond the issue of European integration, these events represent a crucial struggle for Georgia’s independence from Russian influence. RSF urgently demands decisive action from the EU and an international investigation into the violence against journalists, with the aim of bringing those responsible to justice,” urges Jeanne Cavelier, head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.
The report cites examples of specific media workers who have fallen victim to brutal violence at the hands of Georgian security forces. Among them are Formula TV reporter Guram Rogava, Realpolitik editor Aka Zarkua and others. It also mentions cases of attacks by masked people, when nearby law enforcement officers did not react. RSF is convinced that the violence is coordinated between the police and groups of unknown individuals in hooded clothing.
Reporters Without Borders writes that the Special Investigation Service, created in cooperation with the EU, has announced an investigation into cases of violence against journalists, "but its chronic ineffectiveness leaves little hope for a result."
Meanwhile, legislative amendments adopted by the Georgian government after December 11 further tighten restrictions on peaceful assemblies.
"These measures include a ban on wearing masks, which is important for journalists exposed to chemicals, and a significant increase in fines for minor damage or obstruction of traffic, which can be used against reporters covering demonstrations. The amendment also expands police powers, increasing the list of grounds for administrative arrest of a person, personal search, and search and seizure of property," Reporters Without Borders commented on the innovations.
RSF emphasizes that Georgia ranks 103rd out of 180 countries in the RSF World Press Freedom Index for 2024.
