According to the 2026 report published by Reporters Without Borders, Georgia ranks 135th globally in terms of media freedom. Over the past year, the country’s position has declined significantly, falling from 114th to 135th place among 180 countries.

The report states that state interference undermines efforts aimed at improving media freedom.

“Due to the growing number of verbal and physical attacks against 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 expression,” the report says.

It also notes that while Georgia’s media landscape is characterized by diverse viewpoints, it is highly politically polarized.

“Manipulation, hate speech, and disinformation are widespread in the media, especially on television, which remains the main source of information in the country. Media owners often influence editorial content. This was seen in the case of the TV channel Rustavi 2, which changed its editorial line after being transferred to a former owner. Similar concerns apply to the Public Broadcaster, where there has been interference from the authorities. Expanded regulatory powers now allow the government to review media content, increasing the risk of censorship. Regional radio stations face funding challenges, while print media readership is declining and online news platforms are growing,” the report states.