Freedom House

06/17/2026

Georgian officials have signaled a desire to improve ties with the Trump administration, but Washington should demand concrete steps to reverse democratic backsliding first. Read more from Katie LaRoque on why the release of political prisoners should be treated as the minimum benchmark for improving US-Georgia relations: https://freedomhouse.org/article/no-reset-without-releases-georgias-political-prisoners-and-price-better-relations

06/16/2026

Freedom House was proud to honor the fifth president of Georgia, H.E. Salome Zourabichvili with the 2026 Mark Palmer Prize.

Presented by CEO Jamie Fly and Dr. Sushma Palmer, the award recognizes exceptional achievements in protecting and advancing democracy by diplomats and public officials. President სალომე ზურაბიშვილი / Salome Zourabichvili's courage and steadfast commitment to Georgia's democratic and European future embody the spirit of this honor. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person or online, and special thanks to Rep. Joe Wilson for providing remarks and Josh Rogin for moderating the Q&A. Watch the full event here: https://freedomhouse.org/event/2026-mark-palmer-prize-honoring-he-salome-zourabichvili

06/15/2026

Tonight: Join Freedom House as we honor H.E. Salome Zourabichvili, fifth president of Georgia, with the 2026 Mark Palmer Prize. Watch live starting at 5:30pm ET: https://freedomhouse.org/event/2026-mark-palmer-prize-honoring-he-salome-zourabichvili

06/14/2026

June 14, 2026 marks four years since Cambodian-American lawyer and human rights defender Theary Seng was imprisoned in Cambodia. A survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide, she transformed personal tragedy into a lifelong commitment to justice, democracy, and human rights. Her courage continues to inspire people around the world. We call for her immediate release.

Learn more: https://freedomhouse.org/report/free-them-all?name=theary-seng

06/12/2026

In June 2022, Theary Seng was sentenced to six years in prison based on social media posts that were critical of Cambodian leaders. Her courage continues to inspire those fighting for democracy and human rights, and we will continue to advocate for Theary through our program.

06/11/2026

The release of Georgia’s political prisoners should be the minimum benchmark for improving US-Georgia relations. Until Georgian authorities end their crackdown on dissent and reverse democratic backsliding, there should be no normalization on Georgian Dream’s terms. Read our latest analysis:

There should be no normalization of US-Georgia relations until Georgian authorities release those detained or imprisoned for exercising their fundamental freedoms.

06/11/2026

Read the latest Spotlight 🔆 on Freedom:

🔒 No Reset Without Releases: Georgia’s Political Prisoners
🏅 Honoring H.E. Salome Zourabichvili with the 2026 Mark Palmer Prize
👥 Freedom House Welcomes Margaret Hoover & David Pressman to the Board
🌍 Country Spotlight: Georgia

More: https://bit.ly/HBDze36
Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe_FHnewsletter

06/10/2026

Introducing: Cup

As the 48 World Cup teams prepare for the biggest sporting event in the world, how do their countries score in Freedom in the World 2026?

See where your team stands and discover how political rights and civil liberties vary around the globe: https://freedomintheworld.org

06/09/2026

Next week, Freedom House will award the Mark Palmer Prize to the fifth president of Georgia, H.E. Salome Zourabichvili, for her principled leadership and unwavering commitment to democracy. Watch live on Monday, June 15 at 5:30pm ET: https://freedomhouse.org/event/2026-mark-palmer-prize-honoring-he-salome-zourabichvili

06/08/2026

Four years ago today, Turkish authorities arrested Kurdish journalist Sofya Alagaş. Despite imprisonment, prosecution, and the loss of her elected office, she continues to fight for press freedom and human dignity.

Freedom House is proud to support Sofya through our campaign. Learn more about Sofya: https://freedomhouse.org/article/qa-persecuted-her-work-turkey-journalist-sofya-alagas-wont-be-silenced