Tbilisi.“Transparency International Georgia” publishes a traditional report on TV advertising market review.  “In 2023, compared to the previous year, the total advertising revenue of broadcasters increased by 18.8% (15.1 million GEL) and became 95 million GEL. TV station advertising revenues increased mainly because of pro-government broadcasters”.  More… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. GCSD organized a two-month training course “Terrorism and Violent Extremism” specifically tailored for media representatives covering security-related topics. After completion of the thematic part of the course, a two-day masterclass was organized for journalists on Effective and Ethical Reporting on Terrorism and Violent Extremism. The masterclass was led by the international expert, Roderick Cowan. The course was held as a part of the program "Enhancing the Capacity of Georgia in Preventing Violent Extremism and Radicalization" with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway. More... Source: GCSD 

Tbilisi.Transparency International Georgia has identified three major categories of violence against journalists out of approximately 45 incidents involving media professionals in 2023. These categories include: Instances of overt assaults against media representatives; threats and alleged intimidation attempts against media representatives;  violence against journalists during protests, arrests and imposition of fines.  The trends from 2023 have continued this year. More... Source: Transparency International Georgia  

Tbilisi.The collaborative initiative between Georgian Down Syndrome Associationassociation and  Media and TV Art College, titled "Solidary media vision among youth," has been successfully finished. There were ten training sessions conducted as part of the project. Experts and activists with disabilities were invited to educate the graduates and students on appropriate ways to report on individuals with disabilities and topics concerning them. The project was implemented with the financial support of Skills Agency Georgia. More... Source: Georgian Down Syndrome Association

Tbilisi.Get to know journalists who participated in the joint grant competition of the CENN and USAID Economic Security Program, won and prepared media products on reducing and recycling plastic waste. The winning journalists were awarded at a conference held on December 22, aimed at strengthening circular solutions in Georgia and promoting information sharing among interested parties involved in the sector.  The media competition was organised from October to December 2023, within the framework of the project "Strengthening the Community for the Implementation of Circular Solutions in Georgia", which is implemented by CENN with the support of USAID's Economic Security Program. More... Source: CENN

IDFI conducted practical-simulation training on the right to public information for journalists; The aim of the training was to strengthen the journalists' resilience to the artificial obstacles established for obtaining information from public institutions;  The event was held with the support of the MATRA program of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia.  More... Source: IDFI

Tbilisi.The 2023 winners of the "Lekso" award will be revealed on November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders will serve as the keynote speaker at this year's "Lekso" award ceremony. Ambassador of Norway to Georgia, H. E. Bergliot Hovland, will give a welcoming remark. More... Source: Human Rights House Tbilisi

Tbilisi. 25 Georgian journalists underwent a 2-day training program within the EU-funded EU4IM project and delved into crucial topics, including reporting on events in hostile environments, stress management techniques for high-risk situations, and essential first aid. The goal of this training was to empower journalists with practical skills and, through virtual reality (VR) technology, arming them with the tools needed to navigate and mitigate risks while covering protests and riots. source: EU

Tbilisi. TI Georgia’s legal team successfully represented journalist Tengo Gogotishvili in all three instance courts, resulting in TV Company “Rustavi 2” being ordered to pay Tengo Gogotishvili’s salary and corresponding compensation. Read more… Source: TI Georgia’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. TI Georgia’s legal team successfully represented journalist Paata Iakobashvili in all three instance courts, resulting in the TV Company “Rustavi 2” being ordered to pay Paata Iakobashvili’s salary and corresponding compensation. Read more… Source: TI Georgia’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition condemns the physical attack on Misha Mshvildadze, the co-founder and anchor of Formula TV. "Attacks on media representatives in the country remain a serious challenge. The lack of action from the government regarding crimes against journalists, coupled with their hostile rhetoric towards critical voices and dissemination of targeted disinformation, only serves to further encourage such acts". Media Advocacy Coalition urgently calls upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this attack on Misha Mshvildadze. It is crucial that those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Read more… Source: mediacoalition.ge

Tbilisi. GDI publishes the special Report on SLAPP cases in Georgia. “Legal disputes initiated by high-ranking political officials, members of the Georgian Dream, and others related to them on the grounds of defamation have recently become one of the tools for the restriction of media freedom. According to the observation of Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), in 2021-2023, the so-called attacks against critical media and human rights defenders initiated and significantly increased the tendency to address the Courts with SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) lawsuits. A SLAPP represents an apparently groundless defamation lawsuit initiated by politically or financially influential entities/individuals. The aim of these lawsuits is not to protect honor, dignity, or company reputation but to silence publicly active citizens and create financial barriers for them. However, SLAPPs also have a “chilling effect” beyond individual cases, undermining the development of a healthy and pluralistic environment where citizens can exercise civil initiatives”. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Myth Detector shares the blogpost: How was Putin’s decision to lift ban on airline flights with Georgia covered in the Russian Media? “On May 10, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued two decrees; one revoked the 2019 decision to ban direct flights to Georgia, and the other allowed Georgian citizens to enter the Russian Federation without a visa for 90 days. The decision was actively covered in the Russian media. Kremlin propaganda journalists, politicians and representatives of the tourism sector welcomed Putin’s decision, while Russian news agencies, quoting Petre Mamrade, the head of “The Strategic Institute of Management” and Lali Moroshkina, the host at “Radio Imedi,” announced that Putin’s decision was welcomed by the Georgian people as well”. Read more… Source: mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia has studied the guilty verdict delivered against Nika Gvaramia, a former director of Rustavi 2 TV company and the founder of Mtavari Arkhi, on May 16, 2022, which fails to meet the criteria of lawfulness, substantiation and fairness. “Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze of the Tbilisi City Court found Nika Gvaramia guilty of abuse of powers (on two counts) under Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia and sentenced him to three years and six months of imprisonment. Considering the neglect of legitimate questions regarding the impartiality and objectivity of the judge, poor legal reasoning in determining the guilt and sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, dearth of systemic analysis of facts presented in the form of evidence and lack of use of corresponding court practice, legal literature or academic materials, we can conclude that the decision delivered against Nika Gvaramia is unsubstantiated”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The proposed 'foreign agent law' in Georgia poses a significant threat to freedom of speech and democracy and Georgia's future with the Euro-Atlantic aspiration. “We strongly urge the Parliament to withdraw this law!” Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition appeals to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Shalva Papuashvili, to immediately restore the accreditation of journalists in the Parliament, to ensure an unhindered and safe working environment for media representatives in the legislative body, to protect their freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution, especially during the upcoming discussions of the Russian law scheduled for this week. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

CSS appeals to its co-founder, Deputy Head of the Foreign Relations Committee, George Khelashvili to vote against the law that will deeply harms the activities of the organization (similar to other NGOs) he established and thrived for its development for years! Read more… Source: css.ge

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases the statement and mentions that, the initiated draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” is defining CSOs as “foreign agents”. The draft law is against the Georgian people’s steadfast European aspirations and International Human Rights obligations. It will negatively affect Norwegian-Georgian cooperation.  Norway MFA urges lawmakers to act in the interest of democracy. Learn more… Source: twitter.com

Tbilisi. The Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC) believes that the draft laws, especially the one registered on February 27, grossly violate freedoms of expression and association guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia. Also, it contradicts the practice established by the Constitutional Court of Georgia regarding the “legitimacy test” of the restriction of rights. “…While there are many challenges in the country and Georgia is preparing to receive the status of a candidate for EU membership, it is not clear which point of the EU’s 12-point plan requires the adoption of a law on transparency of foreign influence, especially since there is actually nothing about it in the explanatory notes. The Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC) emphasizes that European Integration is a strong will of the citizens of our country and the Parliament of Georgia, within its competence, should do everything for it.  At the same time, the priority of population, according to numerous social surveys, is solving acute labour and social problems, which is also an important part of the European integration. The Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC) calls on the Parliament not to support the draft law on “agents of foreign influence” and to continue working to fulfill the EU’s 12-point plan!” Read more… Source: gtuc.ge

Tbilisi. Commissioner urges the Georgian Parliament to reject the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence”. “While transparency may represent a legitimate concern, it should not be achieved to the detriment of the effective enjoyment by non-commercial organisations and media outlets of their rights and freedoms and of the exercise of their legitimate activities. Reporting requirements should be set up on an equal and non-biased basis regardless of the sources of income. Any interference in this field must respect the principles of necessity and proportionality as established by the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.” Commissioner’s letter in English… Source: www.coe.int

Tbilisi. Comparative analysis of the draft Law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence (the Draft Law) regarding its compliance with international law and European standards (Analysis).  The analysis was prepared by the International Center of Non-Profit Law (ICNL) and European Center for Non-Profit Law (ECNL). Brief version is available here – ICNL-Briefer-of-the-Georgian-Draft-Law-on-Transparency-of-Foreign-Influence Full analysis... Source: ewmi-activism.org