The court hearing in the administrative offence case against Tabula journalist Mariam Kuprava has been postponed to March 30 at the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
Kuprava, along with Mariam Dzidzaria of Netgazeti, is accused of “artificially blocking the road” while performing professional duties. Both journalists face up to 15 days in detention. Kuprava is accused for covering the “Saturday march” on February 7th.
The hearing, initially held on March 23 before Judge Tornike Kapanadze, included presentations of evidence by MIA representative Tamar Kachkachishvili and the defence.
Video footage presented by the MIA shows Kuprava wearing press-identifying symbols, including a press badge and a PRESS armband. However, the short clip submitted by the MIA only shows Kuprava moving on the road and speaking to protesters, without capturing the exact moment she is taking photos or videos. The MIA argued that this proves she was acting as a participant in the protest rather than a journalist.
The MIA claims that the moment she stopped taking photos, she was no longer acting as a journalist, and is demanding the detention of the reporter who was present at the rally covering it while wearing all press badges and symbols.
Kuprava’s lawyer countered that journalistic duties include collecting information and observing the situation, not just taking photos or videos. Defence evidence also includes photo and video material showing Kuprava recording with her phone during the protest.
On February 7, Journalist Mariam Kuprava, wearing all press-identifying symbols, was also seen recording video at the protest. She faces up to 15 days of administrative detention for “artificially blocking the road
“The MIA representative claimed I wasn’t performing journalistic duties because the two-minute video didn’t show me taking photos or videos. When we pointed out the short length of their video evidence, she requested a postponement to submit a longer clip, which, if provided, would show me filming. But journalistic work is not limited to capturing footage,” Kuprava said.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 30 at 11 a.m.
On March 6, Tbilisi City Court also reviewed the case of photographer Giorgi Tarkhnishvili, according to MediaChecker.
The Interior Ministry accuses Tarkhnishvili of obstructing pedestrians by standing on a sidewalk while performing his professional duties on December 18, 2025. The judge postponed the announcement of the ruling in Tarkhnishvili’s case for March 27, the same day as court hearing into the case of Netgazeti journalist Mariam Dzidzaria.
Netgazeti Journalist Faces Up to 15 Days in Detention Over Protest Coverage
