Georgia

There are serious setbacks in freedom of media in Georgia, with numerous attacks against media professionals and the jailing of a critical TV director. Authorities are failing to pursue meaningful accountability for abuses committed by law enforcement. The introduction of the “foreign agent” bill in the parliament in February 2023 met with domestic and international criticism as a sign of an attack on civil society, and was withdrawn at least temporarily. Other areas of concern include illegal surveillance, unfair labor conditions, and violence against women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The European Union conditioned Georgia’s candidacy for membership on progress on 12 issues, many connected to human rights.