Journalists Matter, Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists
The Council of Europe encourages member states to transpose the Campaign to the national context. Without each member’s committed and effective effort at national level, through the development of the so-called ‘national chapter’, the Campaign cannot reach its goals.
In this section, we will present developments in Germany:
National Focal Point
Mr Ivane MAKHARADZE, Commissioner, Department of Audio-Visual Media Services Regulation, Communications Commission of Georgia
National Campaign Committee
A dedicated national committee under the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter campaign has not yet been established. During 2025, the National Focal Point function was transferred from the Special Investigation Service to the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom). According to the authorities, this institutional change was intended to support engagement with media stakeholders and civil society actors.
Safety of Journalists National Landscape
In 2025, Georgia’s legal framework continued to provide specific protections for journalists through provisions of the Criminal Code relating to freedom of expression, unlawful interference with journalistic activities and persecution, as well as through the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression. Measures relevant to media freedom and journalists’ protection also remain included in the National Human Rights Strategy 2022–2030 and the related Action Plan.
The Prosecutor’s Office continued collecting specialised data concerning crimes committed against journalists and unlawful interference with journalistic activities. Since July 2025, statistical recording has also covered investigations initiated by prosecutorial bodies in such cases. During 2025, 12 individuals were prosecuted for crimes committed against journalists, while 38 journalists and camera operators were granted victim status, including eight women. According to data provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, five cases of unlawful interference with journalistic activities were recorded during the first half of 2025.
Georgia, National chapter
