Enhancing Freedom of Expression in Georgia through Resilient Institutions and Media

About the Project

Implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024–2027, the project “Enhancing Freedom of Expression in Georgia through Resilient Institutions and Media” aims to strengthen oversight and advocacy for freedom of expression of the Georgian Public Defender’s Office and civil society organisations (Media Advocacy Coalition, Georgia anti-SLAPPs Platform), increase resilience and ethical standards of national, regional, and online media to improve sustainability and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment, as well as support academic freedom of expression education.
Through these actions, the project will work on delivering a coordinated, sustainable response to the current challenges facing by Georgian media community and civil society and to equip key actors with the tools and knowledge they need to defend freedom of expression in an increasingly restrictive environment.

Budget

500 000 EUR

Duration

1 July 2026 – 31 December 2027

(Implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024–2027)

How Does the Project Work?

The project is composed of three components:

Component 1: Continuation and strengthening of independent institutions and civil society. The recently adopted laws will inevitably result in shrinking of independent institutions and critical voices in Georgia. Without external reinforcement, the few actors still committed to freedom of expression risk losing their ability to monitor, advocate and defend rights effectively. The co-operation with the Public Defender’s Office directly addresses this gap by building its capacity to systematically monitor and report on violations of freedom of expression. Likewise, reinforcing the Media Advocacy Coalition and the anti-SLAPPs Platform responds to their urgent need for skills, resources and tools to counter growing threats - from advocacy at national and international levels to legal defence in SLAPP cases.
Component 2: Building resilience of media organisations and self-regulation. Georgian independent media remain structurally dependent on foreign funding. Without diversification of revenue models, many outlets face closure or loss of independence. Supporting media to adapt sustainable and innovative approaches is therefore the adequate response: it builds resilience where current funding models are failing. The project facilitates transition from donor-driven dependency to more sustainable operational models. At the same time, strengthening the Charter of Journalistic Ethics ensures that ethical standards are not compromised, but instead become a driver of credibility and audience trust, both of which are prerequisites for sustainability.
Component 3: Promoting freedom of expression in education. Equipping the next generation with knowledge of freedom of expression standards is one of the few safe and strategic avenues for long-term resilience. Universities and faculties of journalism currently lack structured teaching on freedom of expression, including its ethical and legal dimensions. The project’s engagement with academic institutions directly responds to this gap: by integrating freedom of expression education into curricula, future journalists, lawyers and civic leaders will gain a solid grounding in European standards.

Who Benefits from the Project?

Public Defender’s Office of Georgia (PDO)
Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC) – network of 16 CSOs
Anti-SLAPPs Platform – network of 5 CSOs
Charter of Journalistic Ethics (CJE) – Georgian Press Council
Regional, central, and online media organisations/outlets
Selected universities in Georgia
General public.

What Do We Expect to Achieve?

The project’s overall objective (impact) is that media actors and media consumers enjoy improved freedom of expression and media standards in Georgia in line with European human rights principles and ECtHR standards.
Expected results include:

Key national institutions and civil society actors effectively promote and protect freedom of expression in line with European standards.
Media actors and self-regulatory bodies demonstrate improved ethical standards, resilience, and adaptability to emerging challenges.
Academic institutions integrate freedom of expression education aligned with European freedom of expression standards.