Media Freedom Rapid Response 189d ago

Georgia is imprisoning journalists and writers for dissent. On August 6, 2025, Georgian journalist and Sakharov Prize laureate Mzia Amaglobeli was sentenced to two years in prison after more than 200 days of unjust pretrial detention and a highly politicized trial. She is the first female journalist imprisoned in Georgia since independence. Her case reflects a wider crackdown following the disputed October 28, 2024 elections and the government’s decision to halt EU integration. Georgia now holds over 60 political prisoners. Since October 2024, more than 30 journalists have been arbitrarily arrested and over 100 attacks on media freedom recorded. Among those jailed for dissent is also renowned poet Zviad Ratiani. This webinar, organised by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in partnership with PEN International, examines how the judiciary is being used to silence independent journalism and free expression, and what international solidarity can still do to counter Georgia’s accelerating authoritarian drift. More about MFRR: www.mfrr.eu