Media Coalition Calls on the Speaker of Georgian Parliament to Halt Assaults on Journalists

“Gela Mtivlishvili and his team have contributed significantly to numerous vital journalistic investigations and exposés. It is deeply concerning that this discreditation of his work appears to be becoming systematic,” states the coalition. “The assault on Gela Mtivlishvili by elected officials, particularly the Speaker of the Parliament, who steadfastly and courageously reports on matters of significant public interest despite numerous challenges, is an endeavor to divert attention away from the genuine challenges confronting the nation and aims to undermine public trust in independent journalism.”

In addition to informing society, journalism plays a pivotal role in holding government actions accountable, functioning as a cornerstone institution in upholding democracy. Deliberate and sustained attacks on the media, along with attempts to erode trust, are efforts to undermine democracy.

The coalition calls on the chairman of the parliament and the ruling party to cease attacks on journalists and, within the framework of their responsibilities, ensure the protection of media freedom and the safety of journalists, as outlined in their statement.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics emphasizes that the recent comments by the Chairman of the Parliament regarding the European Union Prize, its jury members, and nominees exceed the mandate defined for such a position in a democratic country. Instead, they take on the role of a censor and target individuals who have garnered significant acclaim within the professional journalistic community through their involvement in this competition.

“The Charter extends its gratitude to all donors and organizations that sponsor such journalistic competitions and foster quality journalism. Their contributions to the development of Georgian journalism are invaluable.”

Such attacks will not deter independent journalists, including Gela Mtivlishvili, a member of the Charter Council, who was targeted by the Speaker of the Parliament. They will persist in their efforts to timely disseminate all information to the public, including that which government officials may seek to conceal.

The Charter enjoins government representatives, instead of issuing such statements, to guarantee that journalists obtain the public information rightfully theirs by law, which is essentially inaccessible in Georgia, without impediments.

High-ranking government officials should recognize the implications for journalists' safety arising from their publicly expressed, unsupported allegations against journalists and respond appropriately,” asserts the statement from the Charter of Journalistic Ethics.

Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has demanded clarification from the EU representative office in Georgia regarding how the article by Gela Mtivlishvili, editor of Mtis Ambebi, concerning the Shovi tragedy, made it to the finals of the European Union Prize in the category of best investigative works.

The Shovi tragedy, which occurred on August 3, 2023, resulted in the loss of 33 lives, including children. Despite government interference, Mtis Ambebi provided comprehensive coverage of the incident from its onset and published a journalistic investigation titled Crime in Shovi in October.

Mtis Ambebi has repeatedly been the target of attacks by the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, and the current Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, due to their in-depth and critical reporting on the Shovi tragedy.