**Georgian Parliament Speaker Accused of Attacking Press Freedom**
The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, has been accused of attacking press freedom. He accused a online media outlet, Publika, of promoting unlawful activity by sharing a statement from protest organizers.
**Background**
A planned protest on February 2 seeks to block the highway leading into Tbilisi. The protesters plan to demonstrate against the government’s decision to classify international highways as “strategic facilities”. Obstructing them constitutes a criminal offense.
**Publika Defends Its Journalistic Duty**
Publika defended its right to report on the protest, saying it was simply doing its journalistic duty. It claimed that Papuashvili’s statement was an attempt to exert pressure on its editorial independence and encourage hostility against it.
**Civil Society Organizations Condemn Papuashvili’s Remarks**
Several civil society organizations have condemned Papuashvili’s remarks as an attack on media freedom. They said his statement was a clear attempt to pressure and intimidate the media, and that he was interfering in critical media work.
**Protest Expected to Draw Public Attention**
The scheduled February 2 protest is expected to draw significant public attention. Despite newly introduced prohibitive regulations, protesters plan to block the capital’s main entrance highway near Tbilisi Mall.
**For More Updates, Follow Our Liveblog**
Keep an eye on our liveblog for updates regarding the pro-EU protests that continue on the 67th day.
**Also Read:**
You can also read more about the protest and its implications by clicking on this link.