**Violence Against Media Representatives on the Rise in Georgia**
A report by Transparency International-Georgia (TI-Georgia) has highlighted a disturbing rise in violence against journalists and media representatives in the country. According to the report, nearly 200 cases of physical and verbal attacks, along with attempts to intimidate and silence the media, have been recorded this year alone.
**Fivefold Increase in Violence**
This marks a nearly fivefold increase compared to last year. TI-Georgia has documented the violence against the media representatives into five categories, including open attacks on media representatives, illegal detention and fines of journalists, attempts of threats, pressure, and intimidation against media representatives, and the use of accreditation rules by Parliament against the media.
**Violence Against Journalists Covering Pro-European Protests**
Special attention is paid to the violence against journalists covering the pro-European protests. TI-Georgia reported over 90 cases of media violations during these protests, including targeted attacks, severe physical injuries, unlawful detentions, fines, deliberate damage to equipment, and threats.
**Journalists Attacked by Law Enforcement and Hired Thugs**
Journalists were subject to violence not only by law enforcement but also by so-called “titushky” (hired thugs). The most critical cases of attack on Maka Chikhladze, Giorgi Shetsiruli, and Guram Rogava were highlighted in the report.
**Difficulties for Journalists During Parliamentary Elections**
The day of the parliamentary elections on October 26 was also difficult for journalists. Media Checker reported that 70 media representatives faced interference in their work.
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