**Georgia in Crisis: A Threat to Independent Media**
The country of Georgia is facing a grim situation. Once known for its vibrant and welcoming culture, it has become a place where peaceful protesters are beaten and journalists are targeted as traitors. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has been silencing civil society and media with its foreign agent law, rigging elections, and announcing plans to suspend EU membership.
**Disinformation: A Tool of Authoritarian Rule**
The Georgian government is using disinformation as a tool to consolidate power. It is spreading Russian narratives about the war in Ukraine and labeling journalists as traitors. This is similar to other authoritarian regimes in Hungary, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.
**Independent Media Under Threat**
A long campaign of intimidation, financial strangulation, and donor cuts has taken its toll on independent media outlets in Georgia. The sudden termination of U.S. aid funding has left many outlets struggling to survive. OC Media, a progressive online outlet, was forced to cut $250,000 from its budget.
**The Future of Independent Media**
If nothing changes, the region risks being trapped in a disinformation bubble, where Russian-backed narratives spread freely. Without independent media outlets like OC Media, pro-government voices will dominate, and the truth about events like the war in Ukraine may be lost.