Letter calling for EU leaders' support for Georgian journalist Georgi Gabunia

ECPMF

18 August 2020

No Comments

18 August 2020

For the consideration of:

 

Christian Danielsson, Director General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)

 

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

 

His Excellency Carl Hartzell, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union

 

We call on all European institutions to monitor the threats made against Georgian journalist, Giorgi Gabunia and work to support all journalists and media workers in Georgia

 

Dear Commissioner Várhelyi

 

Dear Director General Danielsson

 

Dear H.E. Ambassador Hartzell

 

On behalf of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), we would like to draw your attention to the escalating threats made against prominent Georgian journalist, Giorgi Gabunia, which has resulted in the recent arrest of an individual who was allegedly planning the assassination of Mr Gabunia. This comes after a number of different threats made against him and his employer, Rustavi-2 TV, for which he was an anchor.

 

Giorgi Gabunia caused controversy in Georgia and in a number of Russian speaking countries for a monologue (presented in Russian) in which he criticised Vladimir Putin. This led to him being suspended for two months and subsequently fired when the ownership of Rustavi2 Broadcasting Company changed hands. Russian and Georgian authorities swiftly condemned Mr Gabunia’s monologue. The Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili stating his words were a threat to statehood. Russia threatened economic sanctions, with the Russian Duma suggesting that it would seek the extradition of Gabunia. The threatening and intimidating language against Gabunia continued as the Head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov called on Georgian leaders to launch a criminal investigation into Mr. Gabunia, before sharing an explicit threat of violence on Telegram “Gabunia better hide behind seven fences, because the first person he encounters will do to him what he deserves”.

 

On 15th June 2020, Formula TV reported that a Russian national was arrested in Tbilisi by state security forces for planning an assassination of Mr. Gabunia. Additionally, while this case is still being investigated, Nika Gvaramia, the Director General of Mtavari Channel, has publicly accused Ramzan Kadyrov of orchestrating the attempted assassination. While much is still unclear, as documented in the investigations into the murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia, in Malta and Ján Kuciak in Slovakia it is imperative that authorities uncover who was ultimately responsible for the threats of violence. As the investigation into the arrested Russian national continues, we call on the Georgian authorities to take all necessary steps to uncover who orchestrated, instructed and financed the assassination plot and bring them to justice. This will be a powerful step towards dismantling impunity towards threats against journalists and media workers, and prove the law holds everyone accountable.

Yours sincerely,
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom

Read news by categories:

Related news

Statement

The Only Material: Exhibition on Ukrainian journalism opened in Berlin — Now extended until 4 August

Berlin, 26 June 2025 — The Only Material, an exhibition exploring the work and personal journeys of Ukrainian journalists during the ongoing full-scale war launched by Russia against Ukraine, opened at the Museum for Communication in Berlin. Organised by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) through its Voices of Ukraine programme — part of the Hannah Arendt Initiative and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office — the exhibition invites visitors to see beyond the headlines and into the lived experiences of journalists reporting under fire.

READ MORE
Statement

Serbia: Media freedom continues to decline at alarming speed, EU must take action

Journalists face rising threats in Serbia. 95 violations in 6 months. EU urged to respond decisively to defend media freedom and democratic values.

READ MORE
General

ECPMF 10th Anniversary Poster Contest – Winning Design by Maria Grynevych

To celebrate 10 years of defending press freedom, ECPMF launched a poster design contest in May 2025. From 36 submissions, Maria Grynevych's work was selected as the winning design.

READ MORE
Statement

Media Recovery Ignored at Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025

45 media organisations condemn the lack of focus on Ukraine’s media recovery at Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome. Press freedom must be central to rebuilding Ukraine.

READ MORE
Statement

Turkey: MFRR partners alarmed by state-backed attacks on Leman magazine

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemn the arrest of four staff members of Leman, one of Türkiye’s leading satirical magazines, and express deep concern over the ongoing judicial, economic, and physical pressure targeting the publication following the release of a cartoon deemed offensive by religious and conservative groups.

READ MORE
Statement

International organisations condemn the arrest warrant issued against the journalist Nedim Türfent by the Turkish authorities

Leading media freedom and human rights organisations condemn the arrest warrant issued by Turkish authorities against exiled Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent.

READ MORE