Georgia has declined in an annual press freedom index released by the Paris-based media rights group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on October 20.

Georgia is ranked 99th in the table of 178 countries with 27 points in the survey covering the period between September 2009 and September 2010. Georgia was ranked 81st with 18.83 points in last year’s similar survey. More points indicate on the worse media situation.

RSF compiles its annual survey based on 43 criteria measuring, among other violations, attacks and violence against journalists, as well as censorship and impunity enjoyed by those responsible for press freedom violation. RSF says that assessments based on these criteria are made through questionnaire sent to its partner organizations, or other independent sources in the countries which are surveyed.

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