Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Dream Prime Minister, has again stated that Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of Batumelebi/Netgazeti, who has been in custody for seven months on charges of assaulting a police officer, was carrying out a "specific order."
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Yesterday, July 9, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with 490 votes, which states that the charges against Mzia Amaglobeli are "fabricated." European Parliament members supporting the resolution demand the immediate and unconditional release of the journalist.
"This case is crucial for them [European Parliament members]. They are well aware that undermining law enforcement agencies undermines the entire state, too, and they intended to undermine law enforcement agencies in Georgia. Mzia Amaglobeli carried out a specific order in this regard, right?
She attempted to undermine law enforcement agencies and the police, but she got exactly the response such an action deserves in a legal state. Of course, those people who are trying to discredit statehood in Georgia are offended by this. Of course, this will not happen; we will defend the interests of our state to the end," Kobakhidze told journalists.
This is not the first instance where Irakli Kobakhidze has violated the presumption of innocence concerning Mzia Amaglobeli, accusing her of "carrying out an order." He made a similar statement on April 16 during a broadcast on Rustavi 2. "She is not a victim... she was carrying out a specific order when she insulted a police officer; her task was to undermine the police and insult the dignity of the police," Kobakhidze stated while appearing on the program Night Courier.
Amaglobeli's lawyers requested that Irakli Kobakhidze be questioned in the criminal case, as, according to them, Kobakhidze's statement indicates that he must possess "important information." Judge Nino Sakhelashvili did not grant this motion.
Amaglobeli also sued Irakli Kobakhidze for defamation and demanded a retraction of the statement made on the Rustavi 2 program. Concurrently, journalists appealed to Rustavi 2 to allocate airtime on the Night Courier program to Mzia Amaglobeli's lawyer. A protest was also held outside the TV company, but the journalists' request was not satisfied.
Mzia Amaglobeli was arrested on January 12 for slapping the Batumi police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze. She has been charged under criminal law with assaulting a police officer, a charge that carries a sentence of 4 to 7 years in prison. Despite the slap, Dgebuadze wasn’t injured but claimed, "his cheek hurt." After her arrest, Dgebuadze spat in Amaglobeli’s face while she was handcuffed in side the Batumi police station. She was denied drinking water and access to the restroom for several hours. Lawyers were also prevented from seeing her for more than three hours. According to Amaglobeli’s testimony, Dgebuadze also attempted to assault her, but was restrained by his colleagues. The prosecutor’s office has not investigated the offenses committed against Amaglobeli. After her arrest, she went on a hunger strike for 38 days. During her unlawful imprisonment, her eyesight deteriorated alarmingly.
