European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Afgan Sadygov moved to Georgia seven months ago to escape persecution by the authorities in his own country, where he has been arrested several times on various dubious charges.

Kurmasheva, who had been in pre-trial detention since October 2023, was tried in secret and convicted of “spreading false information” about the Russian military.

“This legislation on undesirable organisations is just a repressive tool in the hands of the Kremlin. It aims to censor independent voices and to criminalise the practice of independent journalism” – EFJ

Kriger was placed in pre-trial detention on charges of allegedly assisting the late Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, labelled as “extremist”.

Press freedom groups point to “a disconnect between the report’s findings and on-the-ground realities”.

“The policeman suddenly attacked me from behind. He punched me twice in the face before pushing me to the ground with his knee behind my back. I kept shouting that I was a journalist” – Ignacio Rosaslanda

IFEX joins the members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response and other organisations in expressing deep alarm about the Foreign Influence Bill and the sudden rise in violence and other restrictions against Georgia’s journalists reporting on the public protests against the Bill.

Both journalists are accused of “extremism” following their alleged preparation of photo and video materials for the YouTube channel “NavalnyLIVE”.