<div>UPDATE (22 August 2025)
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<div>Journalism in Georgia is still under relentless attack.
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<div>The government is consolidating its authoritarian rule, and its efforts threaten to wipe out many media outlets altogether. Journalists are working under constant pressure, risking their freedom, health, and personal safety every day.
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<div>In the past year alone, we have seen:
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<div>- Smear campaigns against journalists;
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<div>- Targeted physical attacks on media workers, some resulting in hospitalisation;
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<div>- Restrictive laws designed to cut funding and silence free voices;
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<div>- A two-year prison sentence for prominent Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli.
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<div>This is not just an attack on the press — it is an attack on truth, democracy, and the right for people to know what is happening in their communities.
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<div>As a result, this campaign will now be supporting a new initiative by 22 online media outlets who have united for the first time to launch the Lights Must Stay On campaign — to push back against the darkness that threatens to swallow Georgia and leave its people uninformed, vulnerable, and unheard.
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<div>Donate now and be the light that keeps that darkness from taking over. Let’s keep the press alive despite the coordinated efforts to silence us.
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<div>Your support will help sustain the work of 22 outlets: Batumelebi, Netgazeti, Publika, Indigo, Kartlis Ambebi, Guria News, Samkhetis Karibche, Chai Khana, Info Imereti, Studio Monitori, Kutaisipost, OC Media, Radio Marneuli, the Adjara Times, iFact, Project 64, Mediachecker, Chemi Kharagauli, Aprili Media, Guriis Moambe, TOK2Region, Jnews.
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<div>Website: <a href="https://sinatle.media" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://sinatle.media/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://sinatle.media/</a></a>
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<div>UPDATE (5 December 2024):
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<div>Georgia’s fragile democracy is facing its greatest challenge yet. <a href="https://oc-media.org/features/explainer-after-a-month-of-simmering-protests-georgia-erupted-why-now/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nationwide protests</a>, sparked by the government’s decision to delay EU accession ‘until 2028’ continue to grow, fueled by frustration over fraudulent October elections, the newly adopted foreign agent law, and systemic democratic backsliding. Free, non-partisan media remains essential to documenting these historic events and holding those in power to account.
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<div>Journalists and media workers have been consistently targeted and attacked by riot police during the new wave of ongoing protests (29 November — present), with many brutally beaten, requiring medical assistance and surgery. Equipment has been destroyed or damaged, <a href="https://oc-media.org/georgian-protester-in-critical-condition-as-violence-continues-for-sixth-night/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">including cameras</a> belonging to our co-director and journalist, Mariam Nikuradze.
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<div>This is a plea: we desperately need your help. The Georgian government has been severing its ties with our Western partners, pushing the country into Russia’s orbit, and succumbing to the whims of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
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<div>The free press is one of the last remaining checks on the Georgian Dream’s authoritarian slide.
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<div>Thanks to your generous donations, we have already provided essential safety equipment such as helmets, gas masks, and first aid kits to 11 media outlets (including OC Media) as well as four freelance journalists and photographers covering the protests — to protect our colleagues and keep critical reporting alive. But there’s still much to do.
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<div>Your support enables us to:
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<li>Equip journalists with protective gear to safely cover protests.
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<li>Replace damaged or destroyed equipment, ensuring important stories are told.
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<li>Provide urgent financial support to help journalists and media organisations continue to operate as the government’s repression intensifies.
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<div>The stakes have never been higher. The government’s actions threaten not just the media, but the very fabric of Georgia’s democracy.
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<div>Please stand with us in defence of the free press and democracy in Georgia! Donate today.
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<div>If you want to help support OC Media’s coverage with a monthly contribution, become an <a href="https://oc-media.org/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OC Media member</a>.
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<div>This campaign is run by <a href="https://oc-media.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OC Media</a> and its partner media outlets, <a href="https://on.ge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On</a> .ge, <a href="https://sova.news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SOVA News</a>, and <a href="https://jnews.ge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jnews</a>.
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<div>All proceeds will go to the following media outlets based in Georgia: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/11xPqlhWPOHp1SI19F6j--Kd6r20siw0j5J-y4VY97Gk/edit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LIST</a>.
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<div>Click the <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17J_5gWvbfL7RHnjXWu8peKPIjKXwnsay" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LINK</a> to view a Google Drive folder with photos of the equipment purchased using the proceeds from the campaign.
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<div><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pETfWaPsHorP06hdynap0JuHMlK4o6b_Uafzy8SUWtk/edit?gid=0#gid=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HERE</a>, you can see a breakdown of how the funds were spent.
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Marita Broman

Anonymous

DONATA Kukyte

Elene Khonelidze

Help Georgia’s media survive an authoritarian crackdown

Still £8,870 to go. Help us build momentum.