Georgia’s World Press Freedom Index ranking weakened
- 3 May, 12:49
Georgia has experienced a significant decline in its press freedom ranking, falling 26 places to 103rd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. Azerbaijan also saw a drop in its ranking, falling 13 places, while Armenia improved its position by six places.
Georgia’s press freedom ranking has been declining steadily since 2021, when it was ranked 60th. The country’s rank fell by 29 places in 2022 following homophobic riots in July 2021.
During the riots, homophobic extremists targeted journalists covering the event, resulting in the death of one journalist and injuries to 50 others.
According to Jeanne Cavelier, the head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Georgian authorities failed to prosecute the organizers of the attacks on journalists.
Cavelier noted that Georgia’s decline in the press freedom ranking is the most significant in the region over the past decade.
Georgia’s press freedom indicators have deteriorated across the board. This decline is driven by increasing societal polarization fueled by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The party’s cultivation of closer ties with Moscow and its increasingly hostile stance toward press freedom are contributing factors.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also raised concerns about a “worrying trend showing a growing authoritarianism” in Georgia. This is exemplified by the Georgian Dream party’s reintroduction of a controversial draft “foreign agent” law.
Since the bill was resubmitted to parliament in April, tens of thousands of Georgians have protested against it on a daily basis. Georgian police have responded with excessive force, using pepper spray, tear gas, stun grenades, water cannons, and allegedly, rubber bullets.
Police violence has been directed not only at protesters but also at journalists covering the protests.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Georgian authorities to withdraw the controversial draft foreign agent law, which poses a grave threat to journalists and press freedom in the country.
