Georgia: WPF Condemns Detention of Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and Assault Charge
January 12, 2025 - Georgia, Batumi
Mzia Amaghlobeli, director of Batumelebi and NetGazeti, was detained twice in Batumi—first for posting a strike sticker, then during a protest. She’s now accused of assaulting a police chief, a charge carrying 4-7 years imprisonment. Amaghlobeli reported police mistreatment and was denied legal access for hours in custody.
Despite her defense team offering a bail request of 100,000 GEL ($35,340), Judge Nino Sakhelashvili denied it, ordering pre-trial detention. Amaghlobeli, in court, held up a copy of Maria Ressa’s How to Stand Up to a Dictator as a symbol of resistance, drawing parallels to the tactics used by the Georgian Dream authorities. Her next court hearing is scheduled for March 4.
Women Press Freedom condemns the detention and targeting of Amaghlobeli. This is a blatant attack on press freedom. Since protests began in November, dozens of women journalists have faced harassment and police violence - Amaghlobeli and her colleagues have been on the ground documenting unjust detentions by authorities in Batumi.
We demand the charges against her be dropped and an end to the persecution of independent journalists in Georgia.
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Mzia Amaghlobeli was detained twice in Batumi—first for posting a strike sticker, then during a protest. She’s now accused of assaulting a police chief, a charge carrying 4-7 years imprisonment
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