3. Mzia

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What's happening in Georgia?

One Man Army

6 episodes

1 month ago

What's happening in Georgia? In October 2024, the Georgian Dream party extended its 12 years in power following rigged elections. A month later, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced Georgia was freezing its application to become a member of the European Union. His speech sparked outrage, and daily public protests. Police, special forces and state-approved heavies (or 'titushkies') were deployed to brutally supress protests and target protestors and journalists. Repressive laws (FARA, the Law on Grants) were enacted to make it almost impossible for NGOs, civil society groups, independent media and lawyers to remain solvent, and to challenge the government... but still they do.

What is the story of Georgian Dream, and its backer, the billionaire oligarch Bidzhina Ivanishvili? When did this nominally 'pro-European' government cast off its mask and reveal its desire to create a Russian-style authoritarian state in pro-European Georgia?

English language podcast about the situation in Georgia.

#GeorgiaProtests #TerrorInGeorgia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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English language podcast about the situation in Georgia.

#GeorgiaProtests #TerrorInGeorgia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3. Mzia

What's happening in Georgia?

12 minutes 43 seconds

3 months ago

3. Mzia

When a regime persistently violates a range of human rights, what should journalists do? If they report the facts, should they be targeted, threatened and physically abused? Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of the independent news platforms Batumelebi and Netgazeti, is currently on trial in Georgia. In January, she was arrested twice in in one night, by the same officer. Her first arrest was for distributing stickers calling for a general strike - this is not illegal. Having been identified as a senior figure in the independent media, she was released, but then a trap was set. Having been knocked to the ground in a stampede, she was verbally abused by the arresting officer until she final cracked and slapped him. Her subsequent detention and ill treatment has had a profound impact on her health. If convicted, she faces 4-7 years in jail. Mzia is not the only journalist targeted by Georgian Dream - far from it - but she has become a symbol for the resistance to authoritarian rule. In this episode, her friend and colleague, Irma Dimitradze, explains the background to Mzia's arrest, and summarises her detention and trial.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.