Journalist arrested during protests in Georgia

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year

The Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) has strongly condemned the arrest of Georgian journalist Maka Tsitsikashvili, who was detained and charged with petty hooliganism for her role in holding a member of parliament accountable during a protest against the controversial foreign agent bill. This arrest occurred amidst a series of demonstrations in Georgia, where tensions have been high over the proposed legislation.

CFWIJ and other press freedom advocates have demanded the immediate release of Tsitsikashvili and the dropping of all charges against her. The coalition highlighted that this arrest is a blatant violation of press freedom and called for urgent investigations and protections for journalists in Georgia.

The foreign agent bill in question has sparked significant controversy in Georgia. The legislation requires non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Critics argue that this bill mimics similar laws in Russia and is intended to stifle dissent and limit the operations of independent media and civil society groups.

This incident with Tsitsikashvili is not isolated. Over the past few years, there have been multiple instances of journalists facing harassment, threats, and violence in Georgia. The arrest of Tsitsikashvili, along with the recent violence against protesters and journalists, underscores a troubling trend towards the erosion of press freedom in the country.

The Coalition for Women in Journalism has called on the Georgian authorities to respect their international commitments to press freedom and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists. They urge the government to drop all charges against Tsitsikashvili and to take concrete steps to safeguard media freedom in Georgia.