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August 6, 2025 – 18:37
Amnesty International has urged Georgian authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the conviction and sentencing of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, citing serious concerns over due process violations and alleged mistreatment.
Amaglobeli, founder of the independent news platforms Gazeti Batumelebi and Netzgazeti, was sentenced to two years in prison under Article 353(1) of the Georgian Criminal Code, which criminalizes attacks on law enforcement and other public officials. Her arrest followed a verbal altercation with police officers in January, during which she reportedly slapped a police chief after being subjected to sexualized threats and insults.
Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, stated: “Mzia Amaglobeli must receive a fair trial, and the abuses she has suffered must also be independently investigated and addressed to ensure justice.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the verdict as “disproportionate and politicized,” while Transparency International criticized the statute’s vague definition of “attack,” warning that it grants excessive judicial discretion and is vulnerable to political misuse.
Legal experts have also raised concerns over procedural irregularities. Amaglobeli was held in pretrial detention for over 200 days without being informed of the legal basis for her detention, in violation of Article 245 of the Administrative Offenses Code. The Batumi City Court reportedly imposed detention without reviewing substantive evidence, relying instead on unsubstantiated claims of flight risk and potential obstruction of justice.
Incarcerated since January, Amaglobeli’s health has deteriorated significantly, and she has allegedly been denied access to medical care. Human rights advocates view her treatment as emblematic of a broader pattern of repression against journalists and civil society actors in Georgia.
Calls for accountability continue to mount as international watchdogs demand judicial reform and protection for press freedom in the region.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Sarisha Harikrishna | Queen’s University Belfast School of Law, GB
