Georgia ranks 135th in the world in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Over the past year, the state of media freedom in Georgia has deteriorated, with the country falling 21 positions in the ranking, from 114th to 135th out of 180 countries.
The report notes that state interference is undermining efforts aimed at improving media freedom.
“Due to a growing number of verbal and physical attacks on journalists, the environment for independent and opposition media remains hostile. The adoption and tightening of laws on ‘foreign influence’ and ‘family values’ marginalize journalists, subject them to censorship, and significantly reduce the space for freedom of speech,” the report states.
The report also highlights that in Georgia, “the media environment is characterized by a diversity of opinions, yet it remains extremely politically polarized.”
“Manipulation, hate speech, and disinformation are widespread in the media, especially on television, which is the primary source of information in the country. Media owners often control editorial content. This was the case with the Rustavi 2 television channel, which changed its editorial policy after being handed back to its former owner.
A similar situation is observed at the Public Broadcaster, where government interference has occurred. Expanded regulatory powers now grant the authorities the ability to review media content, which increases the risk of censorship. Regional radio stations face funding issues, while print media audiences are shrinking and online media is growing,” the report notes.
