Press Freedom Groups Renew Call for Mzia Amaglobeli’s Release

The statement was issued one day before the final hearing in Mzia Amaglobeli's case. Batumi City Court judge Nino Sakhelashvili is expected to announce the verdict tomorrow, August 1.

“Amaglobeli has been unjustly held in pre-trial detention since her arrest in January, during which time her health and eyesight have dangerously deteriorated. She has been charged under the criminal code for attacking a police officer — a charge widely regarded as excessive and politically motivated — which carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. 

At a hearing on July 14, Amaglobeli testified about the humiliating and dehumanizing treatment she endured during her arrest on January 11 and 12.  

Since her arrest, Amaglobeli and her media organisations have faced smear campaigns, degrading treatment, and economic retaliation. 

Georgian Dream authorities have also wrongly accused her of acting on behalf of foreign powers – in what appears to be an effort to undermine her credibility as a journalist. 

On July 17, authorities ordered the seizure of the bank accounts of Gazeti Batumelebi and Netgazeti—another step in the Georgian Dream party’s campaign to pressure these outlets.

Amaglobeli has become a symbol of the resilience of Georgian media. Her arrest and prosecution come amid a wider crackdown on media freedom in Georgia. 

The ruling Georgian Dream party has restricted the space for independent journalism through repressive laws, arbitrary arrests, deliberate economic pressure, and impunity for crimes against journalists. 

Ahead of what is expected to be Amaglobeli’s final hearing on August 1, we reiterate our call for the criminal charge against her to be dropped and for her immediate release. 

Our organizations, some of which were in Georgia earlier this month to monitor the previous hearing, will be closely watching developments tomorrow and hope that this discriminatory and excessive persecution of a symbol of media freedom in Georgia will come to an end,” the statement reads.

The statement is signed by:

• International Press Institute (IPI)
• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
• European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
• ARTICLE 19 Europe
• Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
• Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
• Justice for Journalists Foundation 
• Index on Censorship
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
• Araminta
• Media Diversity Institute Global
• Media Development Investment Fund
• IMS (International Media Support)

The final hearing in Mzia Amaglobeli's case at the Batumi City Court is scheduled for August 1, at 13:00.

Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi, 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. 

Irakli Dgebuadze sustained no injuries from the slap, though he claims his "cheek hurt." After her arrest, Dgebuadze spat in Amaglobeli’s face while she was handcuffed inside 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.