Latest news with #GeorgianDream
DW
16 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
In Georgia, press freedom and survival are on the line
The ruling party is steadily undermining independent media with restrictive funding. Editor and reporter Lika Zakashvili discusses solidarity and political imprisonment. Thirty years ago, the Republic of Georgia drafted a constitution in a hopeful gesture toward political pluralism. Today, the post-Soviet republic is steadily rolling back that liberalization, and perhaps nowhere is that more clear than in its relations with the country's independent press. In May, the ruling populist political party, Georgian Dream, passed the controversial "Foreign Agents" law , requiring organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Like Russian laws designed to stifle dissent and media freedom, Georgia's law also hampers the country's independent media, as well as its application toward European integration, which the majority of Georgian citizens support. Since the law's passage, anti-government protests have regularly erupted throughout the country, and journalists and photographers have been imprisoned. Since 2013, Lika Zakashvili has reported for and is now its editor-in-chief. In this interview, she discusses solidarity among independent journalists, how decreased funding has endangered independent media, and why all eyes are on Georgia's courts and judges. DW Akademie: Lika, you yourself have participated in the anti-government protests. You have colleagues who are in jail. You're trying to figure out how to keep afloat. These are all huge challenges. Let's start with funding. What exactly is happening? Lika Zakashvili: Our current government is building a large infrastructure around media, using laws to cancel funding. They know Georgia is a small country, with a small economy, and that various businesses will remain loyal to the government. It's often very difficult here for media outlets with independent editorial policies to find the resources necessary to continue their work. For us, international support, or grants, was the only way for us and others. They know this. They adop ted three different laws with just one goal: to destroy the opportunity to get funding. The law is simple: if you get international monies, you are a target. The requirements are difficult and you have to say, "I'm a foreign agent." It's a way to demonize the media. And if a donor wants to send money to us, first it has to ask the government. They will use this to block funding, both for the media and the civic sector. And what has been the media's response? When the Georgian Dream party enacted the foreign agents law, independent media organizations in Georgia declared that they would not register as agents. These organizations maintain that they are independent, have their own editorial policies, and have never operated under external influence. The Georgian Dream's intention appears to be to tarnish their reputation. These media outlets reject the new rules. As independent organizations, they are prepared to use all available legal means to urge Georgian Dream to suspend and ultimately repeal these laws. It is a very challenging situation. We can't plan long-term. If we get public financial support and we can continue working, this will really matter to us. What we do know is that we are not going to collaborate with the government. We are not agents, we will never be agents. And h ow is the government responding? Independent media are unable to access information from state agencies. There is a strong suspicion that the Georgian Dream has created a media outlet blacklist that it refuses to provide information to. Additionally, numerous studies indicate that the transparency and accountability of public agencies to the public have significantly declined in recent years. And they've restricted our coverage of the courts, which are the most important government bodies today. We can't get video, audio or photographs. We can't cover the trials of political prisoners, which is of much public interest. Georgians want to know what is happening there. There's a lot of empathy among Georgians for these people who have been arrested. Before the restrictions, we were showing readers the lack of evidence in these – well, let's call them what they are: political arrests. There are no juries, just judges. Are you scared for your safety? Yes. During the anti-government demonstrations, my colleagues were beaten by police. A photographer colleague was working. [He] was very visible. He was wearing a mask and also a press identification. Police intentionally beat him, and he ended up needing facial surgery. This was seven months ago at a big demonstration, and it wasn't until afterward that we recognized that we were in fact being targeted. Since then, when we go to protests, we leave all of our ID behind, and we've started reporting with our phones. Miza Amaghlobeli, the founder of two news websites in Georgia, is in failing health and relatives fear for her life. She remains in pre-trial detention. Image: You've mentioned your friend Mzia Amaghlobeli. She's been in jail since January. Mzia's pre-trial detention is disproportionate to the offense she is accused of committing, as outlined in the indictment. If the court finds her guilty, she could face a prison sentence of up to seven years. According to Georgia's Supreme Court, slapping a police officer is not regarded as an attack, especially when there is minimal physical harm involved. Therefore, we assert that Mzia's case is politically motivated. She is being punished for her professional activities. And we simply see this for what it is – intimidation – which they hope leads to a chilling effect. But it won't. Not for us. DW Akademie receives funding from both the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union to work wi th journalists from Georgian media organizations on projects related to fact-checking and recognizing propaganda and disinformation.
Civil.ge
2 days ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Ex-Defense Ministry Officials, Ex-Minister's Relative Arrested on Embezzlement Charges
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) arrested former Deputy Defense Minister Giorgi Khaindrava, the former head of the Defense Ministry's procurement department, and a relative of ex-Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze on charges of embezzling a large sum of money from the ministry. The arrests come amid a series of prosecutions and controversies involving former Georgian Dream officials and business associates, as the ruling party intensifies its anti-corruption rhetoric, while critics point to possible internal power struggles and waves of retribution. According to the SSSG, a coordinated group executed a criminal scheme in 2023 that resulted in the embezzlement of GEL 1,333,728 (approximately USD 500,000) from the state budget. 'The group conducted the procurement of medical equipment without actually carrying out real market research,' Emzar Gagnidze, head of the SSSG's Anti-Corruption Agency, stated during the July 27 briefing . The SSSG stated that the group ensured only 'interconnected' companies 'closely linked' to Burchuladze's relative were allowed to participate in the procurement process, which was deliberately structured to inflate the price of medical equipment through sham transactions involving private firms and same-day tax documentation. 'As a result, the Georgian Defense Ministry carried out the procurement of medical equipment at a price significantly above market value,' Gagnidze said. He highlighted an 'important circumstance,' noting that the then-defense minister's close relative had assured the pre-selected companies of a 'guaranteed win,' citing his connections to 'relevant officials.' The detained individuals now face 7 to 11 years in prison on charges of large-scale embezzlement committed by a group in prior agreement and through abuse of official position, under Articles 182 (2-a,d) and 182 (3-b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Although former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze was not directly named, the alleged crime took place during his tenure, which lasted from 2021 to 2024. In February 2024, shortly after Burchuladze's resignation, Mtavari Arkhi channel reported that the SSSG had begun questioning his deputy, Giorgi Khaindrava, and Vladimer Ghudushari, head of the procurement department, both of whose initials match those mentioned in the SSSG's July 27 briefing. While independent corruption watchdogs have long highlighted suspected corruption in state agencies—often involving preferential procurement schemes—the Georgian Dream government has stepped up its crackdown on alleged corruption cases only in recent months. In June, SSSG also arrested ex-Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze on corruption-related charges. The crackdown also involves legislative moves, including a bill pending in the Georgian Dream parliament, which foresees radical measures against those convicted of financial crimes. Also Read:
JAMnews
2 days ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
Georgia is hosting the multinational Resistant Spirit 2025 drills together with the United States
Joint U.S.-Georgia military exercises in Georgia From July 25 to August 6, Georgia is hosting the multinational military exercise Resistant Spirit 2025. The drills are organized by the United States European Command, which oversees U.S. forces in Europe and Africa. In addition to Georgia and the U.S., this year's participants include Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. Notably, President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani, both from the Georgian Dream party, did not attend the opening of the exercises. Such drills have not been held in Georgia since 2023. Resistant Spirit 2025 highlights the United States' commitment to security and stability in the Black Sea region, as well as the importance of strong alliances and partnerships in addressing shared security challenges. 'On July 21, 2025, U.S. Army paratroopers from the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted a joint airborne operation with approximately 100 Turkish paratroopers in Turkey. Following the operation, the troops relocated to Georgia to take part in multinational exercises, including live-fire drills,' reads a statement from the U.S. Army Europe and Africa website. Commentary Giorgi Tavdgiridze, colonel and military expert: ''Georgia is hosting the multinational Agile Spirit military exercises for the twelfth time. The official opening took place at the NATO–Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) in Krtsanisi district in Tbilisi. Addressing the troops were First Deputy Defense Minister Paata Patiashvili, Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces Irakli Chichinadze, and Brigadier General Terry Tillis, commander of the U.S. 7th Army in Europe and Africa. Notably, Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani of the Georgian Dream party did not attend the event. The silence from the commander of the defense forces and the chief of the general staff also remains unexplained. Russian bloggers are furious – they see NATO's return to Georgia as a painful blow, while Georgian Dream appears powerless to stop it. And the party's weakness is perceived as a devastating humiliation. No matter how often Georgian Dream claims it's not their fault, in Russia's eyes, they've lost significant ground. 'Georgian Dream is weak, but it is propped up by our patience and fear.' News from Georgia
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Georgia hosts NATO military drills despite cooling ties with the West
Georgia hosted a major military exercise with NATO troops on Friday, despite its government facing growing accusations of moving off its pro-Western path and tilting closer to Russia. The country's NATO membership bid is enshrined in its constitution and was endorsed by the military alliance in 2008, but Georgia's perceived democratic backsliding in recent years has placed it increasingly at odds with Western partners such as the European Union. Georgia's Defence Ministry said the Agile Spirit exercise, which is taking place near the capital Tbilisi until 8 August, is part of a broader series of joint drills. The war games involve more than 2,000 troops from 10 countries, such as Germany, Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Moldova. The drills in Georgia are expected to include live-fire exercises and a joint operation with the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade. Is the EU losing Georgia? Earlier this month, the European Parliament in Strasbourg adopted a strongly worded resolution against what EU legislators called "the self-proclaimed authorities established by the Georgian Dream party following the rigged parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024." According to the Georgian Dream, the opposition is working against the national interest along with the EU. Last autumn's elections sparked a wave of protests that lasted more than six months, primarily against the government in Georgia, amid accusations of election fraud. The EU is highly concerned by the wave of detentions carried out by the Georgian authorities against journalists and some members of the opposition. The authorities arrested at least seven opposition figures in recent months. Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022, along with Ukraine and Moldova, and was granted candidate country status in December 2023. Just months later, growing concerns and disagreements between Brussels and the Georgian government prompted the two sides to freeze the enlargement process. As a result, the financial support from the European Peace Facility, worth €30 million, was suspended in 2024, and no support is planned for this year. Meanwhile, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told Euronews in May that his country plays a "vital role for Europe." "Everyone should recognise Georgia's strategic importance for Europe, especially for the eurozone. Our role in the region is significant, and that's why the need for dialogue with Georgian leaders is increasingly acknowledged," he said.
JAMnews
4 days ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
British Embassy: "Georgian Dream has distanced itself from Euro-Atlantic cooperation"
UK regrets Georgian Dream's actions The British Embassy in Georgia has published a statement on sanctions against 21 Russian military intelligence agents and four Russian organizations 'in response to Russia's hostile actions.' The statement also mentions a cyberattack carried out by Russian military intelligence against Georgia in 2019. The Embassy reaffirms its strong support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and expresses regret over the ruling Georgian Dream party's drift away from Euro-Atlantic cooperation. The text of the statement: 'In concert with the EU, NATO and a large coalition of states, the UK has called out Russia's irresponsible, destructive and destabilising hybrid activity targeting the UK, Ukraine, NATO allies and partners across the world. In response to Russia's persistent hostile activity, the UK has sanctioned 4 entities and 21 operatives of Russian military intelligence for irresponsible and destructive hybrid activity targeting the UK, Ukraine, and the wider world. This includes one of the units of the GRU – Russian military intelligence agency – which, in 2022, conducted online reconnaissance to help target missile strikes against Mariupol – including the strike that destroyed the Mariupol Theatre where hundreds of civilians, including children, were murdered. We have also sanctioned three leaders of Russia's 'Africa Initiative', a Foreign Information Manipulation and Influence (FIMI) outlet established and funded by Russia, employing Russian intelligence officers to conduct information operations in West Africa. Africa Initiative attempted to undermine lifesaving global health initiatives in the region by pushing baseless conspiracy theories to further the Kremlin's political agenda. The activity exposed is another demonstration of how hybrid activity – including through cyberspace and disinformation – are a tool in Russia's ongoing campaign to destabilise Europe, and in Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. In October 2019, Georgia was also the subject of a damaging cyber-attack by the Russian military intelligence. In February 2020, the UK Government and its partners exposed these cyber-attacks against Georgia as part of Russia's long-running campaign of hostile and destabilising activity. We have been clear that the GRU conducted these cyber-attacks in an attempt to undermine Georgia's sovereignty, to sow discord and disrupt the lives of ordinary Georgian people. The UK remains unwavering in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The UK and Georgia worked together to build cyber resilience and to publicly attribute that attack, unfortunately Georgian Dream has moved away from Euro-Atlantic co-operation, but the threat from Russia remains, including in the cyber sphere.' News in Georgia
