Amnesty International Urges Georgia to End Smear Campaigns Against Media and Activists
By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Amnesty International has called on the Georgian Dream government to end what it describes as smear campaigns targeting independent media, civil society organizations, opposition politicians and activists, warning that such practices have contributed to an increasingly repressive environment.
The recommendations are contained in the organization's new report, Georgia: Anatomy of Repression: 500 Days of Protest, Crackdown and Resilience, which examines the authorities' response to protests and dissent since 2024.
Among its key recommendations, Amnesty International urged the government to stop disinformation and stigmatization campaigns directed at journalists, human rights defenders, civil society leaders and political opponents. The organization said that where such campaigns have led to harassment, damage to property, physical attacks, violations of due process rights or other harms, those affected should receive adequate reparations.
"All those affected must receive full and adequate reparation, including truth, restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition," the report stated.
The organization also called on state officials, including members of the government and parliament, to refrain from participating in or amplifying disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining the work of human rights defenders and civil society groups.
Amnesty International further urged authorities to investigate cases in which public smear campaigns have allegedly been linked to attacks on individuals or their property, and to ensure accountability for both perpetrators and those who may have organized such campaigns.
The report also criticized what it described as the use of regulatory mechanisms to pressure media organizations. It called on the government to end the use or threat of tax investigations, funding inquiries and other administrative measures as tools to harass or delegitimize independent media outlets.
In addition to recommendations directed at Tbilisi, Amnesty International called on the European Union, the Council of Europe and other international partners to continue supporting Georgian civil society and independent media.
The organization urged international actors to maintain political and financial assistance for NGOs, human rights defenders and media organizations affected by smear campaigns. It also recommended expanding media literacy programs and strengthening efforts to counter disinformation targeting civil society groups.
A separate section of the report focuses on what Amnesty International describes as the use of the judicial system against protesters and activists.
The organization called for an independent review of all criminal convictions handed down against demonstrators and activists since April 2024. According to the report, any convictions found to have resulted from unfair proceedings should be overturned, while those imprisoned should be released unless new charges are brought through fair judicial processes.
Amnesty International also recommended reviewing administrative penalties imposed on protesters between 2024 and 2026 to ensure that individuals are not punished solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The report additionally calls for restoring public access to court proceedings and ensuring that hearings in protest-related cases can be attended by journalists, diplomatic observers and family members of defendants. It also urges authorities to bring restrictions on filming in court buildings and the use of electronic devices in courtrooms into line with international standards.
