Georgia jails journalist Vakho Sanaia over Facebook post

A court in Georgia sentenced journalist and government critic Vakho Sanaia to two weeks in administrative detention over a Facebook post, amid a wider crackdown on dissent during a prolonged political crisis.

Sanaia is a television presenter at the pro-opposition Formula TV station. Interpressnews reported that a Tbilisi court sentenced him over a post insulting senior figures from the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The case was brought by a new interior ministry division assigned to combat hate speech. Georgia created the unit last month, saying it would monitor offensive campaigns and aggressive public communication. Critics have described it as a censorship tool after authorities expanded penalties for insulting political and state officials to include administrative detention.

Speaking to journalists shortly before his arrest, Sanaia said there were no circumstances in which he would restrict his freedom of speech. He called the proceedings absurd and said the authorities' message was that critics should remain silent.

The sentence has raised new concern over press freedom in Georgia. Independent journalists and opposition figures say they face growing legal and physical pressure from the government.

Transparency International Georgia said on Tuesday that 91 detainees in the country met the Council of Europe's criteria to be classified as political prisoners. It cited unfair trials, disproportionate sentences and politically motivated prosecutions. The government rejected the accusation.

Georgia has faced political turmoil in recent years over accusations of democratic backsliding and moving closer to Moscow. The ruling party has arrested several opposition figures and has faced increasing Western criticism.