On the basis of the repressive legislation adopted by the “Georgian Dream” party, which effectively prohibits citizens from freely assembling and undermines the fundamental right to manifestation, 11 representatives of independent and critical media have been detained under administrative procedures over the past ten days, while 1 journalist was unlawfully deprived of liberty for a short period. Approximately 25 such incidents have been recorded over the past year. Transparency International-Georgia strongly condemns the mass persecution and detention of independent media representatives, regarding these actions as a continuation of the repressive policy pursued by “Georgian Dream” toward the media, and as yet another step toward the suppression of freedom of expression.

Among those detained are:

• Vakho Sanaia, an anchor and journalist at the television company Formula, was sentenced by a judge to 6 days of administrative detention. He has since been released from custody.
• Keta Tsitskishvili, an anchor and journalist at the television company Formula, was released from custody after serving 5 days of administrative detention.
• Tsira Zhvania, the social media manager of the same television company, Formula, has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention.
• Journalist Irakli Tsulaia was sentenced by a judge to 8 days of administrative detention.
• Lika Basilia-Shavgulidze, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster and a journalist, has been sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention.
• Afgan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani investigative journalist, was sentenced to 14 days of administrative detention.
• Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, a journalist and anchor formerly employed by the Georgian Public Broadcaster, has been sentenced to 7 days of administrative detention.
• Journalist Maiko Bokharia was released upon paying a fine of 5,000 GEL. She had been detained together with her husband, Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani.
• Giorgi Lifonava, founder and director of the television company Formula, was sentenced to 3 days of administrative detention. He has since been released from custody.
• Zviad Kvaratskhelia, a writer, editor, and anchor at the television company Formula, was sentenced to 3 days of administrative detention. Kvaratskhelia has since been released from custody.
• Nika Pataraia, a cameraman for the Formula television program Droeba, was sentenced to 4 days of administrative detention.

Additionally, on October 24, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs unlawfully deprived Basti Mgaloblishvili, a journalist with the online outlet Publika, of liberty for approximately one hour. Upon his release, he was told that he had been mistaken for another person.