Georgia: Mariam Nikuradze Denied Access to Parliament Debating Foreign Agent Law
Restrictions against journalists signify government’s attempt to weaponize access by targeting independent media
Location: Georgia, TbilisiDate: April 8, 2024Updated: April 15, 2024
Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned that Mariam Nikuradze, co-founder and co-director of the independent outlet OC Media, along with several colleagues, were unjustly denied access to a parliamentary session discussing the controversial "foreign agent law." This law demands that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from foreign sources register as foreign agents, a measure that threatens the independence of media and civic organizations alike. Restrictions on media access during the parliamentary session discussing this law are particularly alarming. We stand in solidarity with Georgian civil society, the European Union, and the United States, calling for the so-called “Russian law” to be immediately quashed. Georgia, which has recently become a candidate for EU membership, must respect the democratic and media freedom principles of the Union. Journalists must be free to report on parliament without unfair restrictions.
On April 8, 2024, the parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, began discussing the reintroduction of the controversial draft “foreign agent law.”
The bill, previously abandoned in 2023 due to widespread protests in which multiple journalists were attacked and injured, would compel organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as entities serving foreign interests. Critics have likened the legislation to Russia's laws on foreign agents, viewing it as a means of intimidation and an infringement on Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union.
Anticipating increased media coverage of debates concerning the draft law, the parliament's press office denied access to several journalists, including Mariam Nikuradze of OC Media.
Nikuradze tells Women Press Freedom that gaining access became exceptionally challenging due to the sensitive nature of the foreign agents' draft law. When she contacted the usual authority responsible for issuing press passes, her requests were denied.
"Many journalists, including us at OC Media, don't have permanent accreditation in the Parliament," explains Nikuradze. Consequently, these independent journalists rely on one-day press passes to receive access. Nikuradze says such bureaucratic hurdles serve to suppress critical voices. "It's used to censor independent and opposition media."
On April 15, 2024, a day before parliament was scheduled to discuss the draft law once again, the parliament's press office informed journalists that only TV journalists would be allowed access to the parliament building the next day. Online media representatives will not be permitted. The Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, reportedly decided to restrict access.
Hostility toward the independent press, state-imposed media restrictions, and violations against journalists are on the rise in Georgia, as documented by Women Press Freedom. “It's bad in terms of security because we are not always safe reporting from the ground,” Nikuradze explains. “Arresting journalists at protests and fining them through courts is not rare anymore.”
“Many journalists, including us at OC Media, don’t have permanent accreditation in the Parliament. (...) It’s used to censor independent and opposition media”
Independent journalists from outlets funded from abroad are also subject to vicious smear attempts. “There is this huge hate campaign coming from the government officials and propaganda against the media and the NGOs and donors in the West. It's very strong,” says Nikuradze. “The environment for journalists, because of all these different factors, is really difficult at the moment.”
The introduction of legislative measures, such as amendments to broadcasting laws and restrictive rules of conduct for press access to parliament, further exacerbate the challenges independent media outlets face in Georgia.
“This draft law is incompatible with European norms and European values, and especially in the current context, it will be very difficult for the European Commission to make a positive assessment if this law is adopted,” says the EU ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczynski.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the denial of access to Mariam Nikuradze and her colleagues. Press accreditation must not be weaponized to prevent or censor coverage of parliamentary proceedings. As Georgia progresses toward EU membership, it must uphold democratic norms and respect media freedom values.
The reintroduction of the foreign agents law raises fears of further unrest and attacks against the press. Women Press Freedom calls on the international community, particularly the EU and the United States, to continue putting pressure on the Georgian government to prevent this unjust legislation from being passed. Journalists must be allowed to report on proceedings without fear of violence or intimidation.
Women Press Freedom will closely monitor developments related to the foreign agents' law and continue to advocate for press freedom in Georgia.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.