Amnesty International has published an annual report on human rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Review 2019.

The report reviews the situation in Georgia. The issue of media freedom is also discussed in the document.

“Concerns over media freedom persisted, specifically in cases of widely perceived, or as reported in opposition media. In August, media manager and outspoken government critic Nika Gvaramia was charged with abuse of authority during his time as director of a pro-opposition TV channel, Rustavi 2. In subsequent months, additional charges related to misappropriation of funds and fraud were pressed against him. Conspicuously, these charges followed a long-standing legal battle over Rustavi 2 ownership which passed into the hands of its former owners who were known for their support of the government. Another high-profile case involved businessman Mamuka Khazaradze, charged with money laundering. He claimed that authorities had sent him a threatening letter in 2018 demanding that TV Pirveli, owned by his business partner, change its editorial policy. In August, the father of TV Pirveli’s owner was also charged under the same case of alleged money laundering”, – report reads.