The relations between Ukraine and Georgia has become the focus of international attention following the war in Ukraine and as a result, raised questions regarding the state of Georgia’s democracy and free press.
The relations between Ukraine and Georgia has become the focus of international attention following the war in Ukraine and as a result, raised questions regarding the state of Georgia’s democracy and free press. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Georgia has been seeking to join Nato and the EU in an attempt to increase their security. This request would allow Georgia to not only receive protection from Nato, but also enjoy access to the EU’s free trade zone. For Georgia to develop closer ties with the west, the country needs to overcome some of the issues they are currently facing. The most important issue is that of regional instability. If Georgia wants to encourage foreign investment, they need to address their issue with regional instability. Furthermore, if Georgia wants to gain accession into NATO and other western organizations, they need to deal with their issues regarding democracy and human rights.
The media is highly censored and often suppressed by the government. Journalists are being arrested and detained on a regular basis, but many are released if they pay a fine or bribe. The Georgian president has been accused of giving orders to block some social media sites that were used to organize protests against his party. There have been reports of police misconduct, politically motivated horseplay, and the forcible institutionalization of children, among other heinous issues. Even before the general elections, the country had been plagued by disruptive issues and powerful factions within the country have tried to sweep such issues under the lag by compromising the opposition and media freedom in Georgia.
The world is mesmerized by such a streak of events happening in a European country that takes pride in upholding democracy and its tenets. It’s especially aggravating that the incumbent government is allegedly sabotaging the parties that are supposed to hold it accountable. Reports of media personalities being attacked and unfairly imprisoned raise concerns about Georgia’s future. Nonetheless, despite the unfriendly waves, Georgia has a chance to improve.
Private Media Owner Kezerashvili Questions The Future of Georgia’s Free Press
The current situation in Georgia is the culmination of the rot that began as early as 2020. Human rights violations in Georgia were rampant in 2020, with the ruling Georgian Dream party launching a full-scale attack on opposition members, journalists and opposition-owned businesses. Freedom of speech was also heavily restricted and when the government passed legislation allowing censorship on social media, it signaled a dark new era for the country.
The current government has been accused of using violence and arresting members of the opposition. The motivation for these actions is unclear, but the desire to maintain power appears to be a driving force. On November 10th, Georgia’s ruling party put undue political pressure on the opposition and a number of media figures. David Kezerashvili, the owner of FormulaTV and an opposition media figure, was among those being put under pressure. Kezerashvili has stated in recent interviews that he purchased FormulaTV in 2019 to strengthen the country’s weak democracy, but that the events of last year have made him deeply concerned about Georgia’s future. Kezerashvili, for example, mentions that Georgian police have attempted to silence the media by brutally attacking journalists or disrupting protests. Law enforcement officers were accused of restricting Georgians’ freedom of assembly after dispersing protestors gathered on the premises of Georgia’s parliament in Tbilisi. By September 2021, the Ombudswoman’s Office had received approximately 133 complaints. The police has also been accused of supporting violence against members of the LGBTQ community. Any attempt to stifle free expression is a threat to democracy.
This is a problem that should be addressed at the highest European political level, not just by private media owners.
Georgian Issues to Watch in 2022
So far, 2022 hasn’t been any easier. Complaints were lodged against the Georgian police force in February following the detention of more than 20 protestors. The police charged them with disobedience and seized their tent, causing chaos.
The Georgian media has not been spared either. Journalists from the Formula and Mtavari TV channels were beaten up at various events in March. The Formula TV crew was attacked while covering an interview in a caf?n Tbilisi. After discovering that the crew was from Formula TV, one of the patrons launched the attack. During the attack, three people were injured.
Ema Gogokhia and her camera person, both Mtavari TV crew members, were pounced outside the Conservative Movement’s office in a separate incident. The attackers mercilessly beat the two with brass knuckles, injuring them and destroying their equipment.
The two far-right attacks are evidence of the ongoing campaign against the alternative media. Press freedom has been deteriorating since 2021, owing to attacks on journalists and the government’s inaction when such incidents occur. When journalists filming political events are attacked, the police rarely intervene, which is a cause for concern. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) members continue to condemn the law enforcement officers’ inaction, urging the government to bring all those involved in the illegal actions to justice.
The Probable Situation in 2022
Georgia’s image has already been tarnished in recent months. Given its history of intimidation, mismanagement of public resources, and allegations of vote buying in previous elections, the ruling Georgian Dream party will find it difficult to guarantee political opposition and media freedom. Given the ruling party’s history of unruly behavior, local and international observers predicted that the government would be unlikely to guarantee better conditions for the media and the opposition.
In the best-case scenario, Georgia is expected to shift toward fairer conditions for opposition members and the media. The ruling Georgian Dream party’s unmistakable dominance, on the other hand, is unlikely to end anytime soon. Georgia’s acidic conditions have little chance of improving, which means that members of the opposition parties and critical media figures are unlikely to find 2022 any better than 2021.
The safety of journalists will continue to be a concern in in the second half of 2022. Reporters Without Borders has frequently exposed attempts by security services to interfere with media outlets. Their activities are rapidly expanding, and the Communication Commission’s efforts to discredit independent journalism are exacerbating the situation.
Parting Shot
Recent reforms have increased transparency in media ownership and satellite TV pluralism. Private media and opposition channels, on the other hand, have yet to be granted the freedom to operate without political interference. Local and international parties with clout in this matter must act quickly if Georgia is to see any positive changes in the near future.
