Last year we donated 45 documentaries to Mtavari TV in Georgia. As our first broadcast partner in the region, we were delighted to work together with them to bring human rights focused films to Georgians. We travelled to Tbilisi last week to find out how the films are being received.

War is not a distant memory for Georgians. Russia invaded as recently as 2008, and Georgians feel deeply connected to the plight of Ukrainians amidst the ongoing war - a war that many of them predicted. No matter where you go in the countries’ capital, you will see the European flag, the Georgian flag and the Ukrainian flag painted on almost every street corner. Though most Georgians are passionate about their country becoming an EU member state, the government is consistently introducing legislation that threatens Georgia’s future.

Mtavari TV is an independent channel that prides itself on bringing news to Georgia that reflects the sentiment of the people. Ranked #2 in the ratings, the channel is known for its investigative journalism and watchdog activities. In a media landscape dominated by pro-government TV channels that echo the sentiment of the Kremlin, Mtavari stands out as a platform that openly criticises the actions of the Georgian government.

Mtavari’s policy is based on pro-Western and democratic values. The channel stands out for its support of Ukraine, Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and against Russian influences in Georgia. Because of this, Mtavari's journalists have been systematically attacked both verbally and physically by the government and government-organised groups.  Lawyer and co-manager of the channel Tamta Muradashvili told us a little bit about the struggle to keep the channel going:

Lawyer and co-manager of the channel Tamta Muradashvili told us a little bit about these struggles:‍

We are a team of media professionals who have experienced multiple types of oppression by the government. Besides protecting free speech and democracy in the country, I think we are also activists for broader causes that are important not only for us Georgians, but for our real friends in Western countries. It's really important at this critical time for our western friends to support us, because unfortunately, Georgia is a state being captured by Russia and Putin-friendly oligarchs. It’s really important to save the media, which is the only surviving democratic institution in the country."‍

But things are about to become even more difficult.

Just last week the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party announced it would revive efforts to pass the controversial ‘Russian Law’ which it dropped last year following major protests. The law, which is known officially as the ‘Foreign Agents Law’, attacks humanitarian organisations, watchdogs and independent media outlets with western support and democratic values.

Under the terms of the proposed law, outlets like Mtavari that receive 20% or more of their funding from overseas will have to register as agents of foreign influence and adhere to tight administrative rules, or else face substantial fines. Russia has used a similar version of the legislation to crush domestic dissent and target NGOs critical of the government.

The new law threatens Georgia’s EU candidate status. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has deemed it “incompatible with EU values and standards.” The law also coincides with a hardline new legislation introduced by the government that would ban what it describes as the promotion of “same-sex family or intimate relationships.”

In times like these, foreign support is vital, says Muradashvili:

We like The Why because when we first saw the catalogue with films about the protection of democracy, women's rights, poverty and children's rights, these are the topics that really concern us and we work a lot with. Mtavari channel is the first media broadcasting media in the Caucasus region that became signatory of women's empowering principles of the UN and that speaks about the democracy that we really care for and fight for.

We are proud to support a channel that is working tirelessly to promote human rights and democracy in spite of all of these challenges.