EU Ambassador to Georgia: when media no longer feel safe, they are no longer free

The introduction in Georgia of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, formerly known as the Foreign Agents law, has had “dramatic effects” on the work of journalists in Georgia, making it “far more dangerous, burdensome and unsafe”, EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski said at an event dedicated to media freedom, funded by the EU and organised by DW Akademie. It took place on 18 October in Tbilisi.

Herczynski said the law had stigmatised reporters and investigative journalists and resulted in attacks online and in person. It has also created existential threats to independent media outlets and severely impacted their ability to help Georgians make informed decisions, debunk disinformation, and act as watchdogs.

“When you foster a culture of fear and retribution, when you resort to legislation in order to curb freedom of speech and expression through stigmatisation, hefty fines and potential exposure of sources, you damage one of the foundations of democracy,” the Ambassador said.

Pawel Herczynski cited data from Reporters Without Borders, according to which Georgia has plunged from 77th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index 2023 to 103rd in 2024.

He also mentioned the studies presented at the event, which found that 65% of interviewed journalists felt unprotected while performing their professional duties since the initiation of the law, while 39% highlighted cases of surveillance and 30% revealed incidents of damage to personal property.

Also, 82% of respondents reported that the government’s aggression towards them had grown over the last six months. Journalists are also reporting more cases of hate speech, defamation, verbal abuse, cyber threats, censure, and disinformation directed at them since the initiation of the law.

“When representatives of the media are no longer safe, or no longer feel safe, they are no longer free,” concluded the Ambassador. “The upcoming elections will be a test for Georgia’s democracy and its European Union path. It is my sincere hope that Georgia’s press freedom rankings will improve dramatically in 2025.”

Find out more

Press release