The 2024 Civil Society Award goes to Journalism Resource Centre Georgia for its persistent work to counter disinformation and contribution to a free, fair and independent media in Georgia amidst the crackdown in the context of the Foreign Agent Law. 

Founded in 2009 by Georgian journalist Natia Kuprashvili along with other independent journalists, the Journalism Resource Center (JRC) has been dedicated to supporting regional media and safeguarding independent community media in Georgia. Their work stems from the belief that strong local journalism is key to countering propaganda, particularly coming from Russia. 

To address propaganda and disinformation, the JRC launched TOK TV, Georgia’s only Russian-language broadcaster and developed the debunking application Fact or Fake to debunk false information. 

The JRC was actively targeted in 2023-2024 due to its active opposition to the Foreign Agent Law implemented by Georguia’s ruling Georgian Dream party. Ms Natia Kuprashvili, her family members as well as colleagues were the target of harassment and threats which have yet to be investigated. 

“Propaganda can only be countered through strong local journalism. If there ever was a need, last month’s elections in Georgia illustrated that truth and freedom of the press can protect us from authoritarianism. This is particularly true in a country like Georgia where the media are controlled by oligarchs permeable to Russian propaganda. Journalists and civil society organisations working together can make a difference to provide fact-checked information and uphold democracy”

Ms Natia Kuprashvili, Founder of the Journalism Resource Centre. 

“In rewarding the work done by the Journalism Resource Centre, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum recognises the paramount role journalists play in combatting the false spread of information, and in the overall resistance to the so-called Foreign Agent Law introduced by the Georgian authorities. Faced with the rise of propaganda at a regional and global level, the fact-checking work and investigative work conducted by journalists is essential to provide citizens with the keys to understanding the powers at play and make enlightened political decisions. Supporting quality journalism contributes to the survival of democracy”. 

Mr Lasha Tugushi, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

About the Award

Since its creation in 2018, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Award celebrates the outstanding and courageous work of organisations from the Eastern Partnership region.

The Civil Society Award recognises civil society organisations’ daily commitment to defending core democratic values, advancing democratic reform, contributing to the political, economic and social development of their countries, and helping people and communities in vulnerable situations. It is delivered by the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on behalf of its 1,200 civil society members. 

Previous awardees include: 

• 2018 – Mr Davit Petrosyan (Armenia) for his courageous and instrumental leadership in mobilising youth and students in the context of Armenia’s 2018 street protests, eventually leading to the Velvet Revolution.
• 2019 – Promo-LEX (Moldova) for their outstanding and courageous work in the field of the political, economic and social development of their countries and defending core democratic values. 
• 2020 – Belarusian Civil Society (Belarus) for its essential help to the victims of the repressions during the 2020 authoritarian repression in Belarus. 
• 2022 – Ukrainian Civil Society (Ukraine) for their extraordinary mobilisation in support of the war effort, providing humanitarian aid, and alleviating suffering while continuing to support democratic reforms. 
• 2023 – Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus) for their resolute commitment to independent journalism in Belarus, integrity in the defence of media freedom, democracy, and human rights even while faced with the harshest of oppressions. 
• 2024 – Journalism Resource Centre (Georgia) for its persistent work to counter disinformation and contribution to a free, fair and independent media in Georgia amidst the crackdown in the context of the Foreign Agent Law.

Source

To find out more about the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Award, please check the EaP CSF website.