Georgia: Women Press Freedom Slams Tbilisi Mayor's Insult to Nutsa Bakhutashvili During "Foreign Agent" Bill Protests
Incident reflects a broader hostility toward journalists, worsened by the "foreign agents" bill and related protests
Location: Georgia, Tbilisi
Date: May 2, 2024
Women Press Freedom condemns in the strongest terms the recent actions of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who publicly insulted Formula TV reporter Nutsa Bakhutashvili. This incident is emblematic of a broader pattern of hostility towards journalists in Georgia, which has been exacerbated by the reintroduction of the controversial "foreign agents" bill in parliament on April 8, 2024. This bill, which mirrors oppressive legislation in Russia, aims to stigmatize and control organizations receiving significant foreign funding by labeling them as foreign agents. This legislative move has already led to an environment of increased intimidation for the press, especially as the parliament's press office has begun denying access to critical journalists, such as Mariam Nikuradze of OC Media. The situation has further deteriorated following the violent suppression of protests against the "foreign agents" bill. Georgian security forces employed teargas, water cannons, and stun grenades against demonstrators, with 63 people detained and several injuries reported among both protesters and police. These actions are indicative of an escalating crackdown on civil liberties in Georgia. On World Press Freedom Day, instead of affirming the rights and safety of journalists, Mayor Kaladze threatened retaliatory actions against media professionals who criticize government policies. Such statements are not only inappropriate but also dangerous, fostering a climate where journalists may self-censor to avoid confrontation or worse. Women Press Freedom Newsroom calls for the immediate cessation of all forms of harassment and violence against journalists and media workers in Georgia; a thorough investigation into the incidents of violence against journalists, particularly during the protests, with accountability for those responsible; the withdrawal of the "foreign agents" bill, which threatens the independence of media and civil society organizations; and ssurance from Georgian authorities that all journalists will have unrestricted access to cover legislative processes and public interest events without fear of retribution.
The Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze publicly insulted a reporter from the government-critical Formula TV, Nutsa Bakhutashvili. The incident occurred on May 2, when Bakhutashvili pressed Kaladze about the alleged use of rubber bullets by police during a protest against the foreign agent bill on May 1.
Bakhutashvili implied that Kaladze was lying to the public "in a brazen manner" regarding the police's use of force against protesters. The mayor responded with a personal insult directed at the reporter, further straining relations between the government and the independent media.
On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, Kaladze offered congratulations to journalists but made his stance clear, saying, "If journalists offend me, I will offend them back." Women Press Freedom sees his comments as a direct reference to his altercation with Bakhutashvili.
Kaladze also inappropriately addressed the violence on July 5, 2021, during which over 50 journalists were attacked while covering the Pride March in Tbilisi. Although he called the violence "unacceptable," he shifted blame toward the media and other groups. "It is you, certain television channels, the President, and radically minded Western-funded groups that incite violence [in Georgia]," Kaladze said.
Formula TV has long been critical of the ruling Georgian Dream party, to which Kaladze serves as Secretary General. The station has reported extensively on government corruption, human rights abuses, and press freedom violations, often drawing the ire of officials.
These actions must be viewed in the context of the recent crackdown on protests against the controversial "foreign agents" bill, which critics, including opposition leaders and Western nations, view as authoritarian and inspired by Russia.
Georgian security forces escalated their response, using water cannon, teargas, and stun grenades against protesters outside parliament. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 63 people were detained, and six police officers were injured.
Transparency International Georgia has called for an investigation into police conduct during the protests, while the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association emphasized that “peaceful protest is a mechanism for promoting democratic processes in the hands of citizens, and any attempt to suppress it is an anti-constitutional act.”
Georgia’s ombudsman visited detained protesters and injured opposition figures, while Levan Khabeishvili, leader of Georgia's main opposition party, wrote, “If my beating prevented that of another, young activist, I’m only happy it happened to me. This country belongs to the passionate next generation, whom I follow till the end.”
The controversy around the "foreign agents" bill resurfaced on April 8, 2024, when parliament in Tbilisi began discussing the reintroduction of the draft 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. Women Press Freedom is worried about the legislation, as it is similar to Russia's laws on foreign agents, and views 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 OCMedia.
The international community has expressed grave concern over the government's actions:
Josep Borrell, EU's foreign policy chief, "strongly" condemned the violence against protesters and stated that the use of force was "unacceptable." He also called on Georgian authorities to "ensure the right to peaceful assembly."
The Swedish foreign ministry criticized the crackdown, emphasizing that "use of force to suppress peaceful demonstrations is unacceptable."
Michael Roth, chairman of the German Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, urged Georgian leadership to "stop the violence and withdraw the foreign agents bill."
Peter Fischer, the German ambassador to Georgia, voiced his concerns regarding "violence and personal injuries" during the protests.
Viola von Cramon, German Green member of the European Parliament, called for "concrete consequences."
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's foreign minister, expressed heartbreak over "Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future."
David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the "brutal crackdown," noting "the very concerning direction the Georgian government has taken with regard to democratic freedoms."
Women Press Freedom Newsroom condemns in the strongest terms the recent actions of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. This incident not only undermines the dignity of an individual journalist but also poses a grave threat to the freedom of the press in Georgia. We stand in solidarity with Nutsa Bakhutashvili and all journalists in Georgia who are facing hostility and endangerment in their quest to report the truth. An attack on one journalist is an attack on the very foundation of democracy, and we must not remain silent. We urge the Georgian government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and protection of journalists and hold accountable those who threaten their safety or freedom of expression.
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