Mzia Amaghlobeli

Apprehended

Tortured

Violence

Prisoner

M. Amaghlobeli

Mzia
Amaghlobeli

«I feel a special responsibility towards my associates, colleagues, friends and family. I don't want my hunger to weaken you. You must fight for me too »
—writes Mzia Amaglobeli.

Mzia Amaglobeli’s case is directly linked to her activism. On January 11, 2025, during a pro-European protest in Batumi, the journalist, media manager, and founder of online media platforms Batumelebi and Netgazeti was first detained administratively for attempting to put up a protest banner reading: “Georgia on Strike.” Though she was quickly released, just hours later, on January 12th, she was arrested again—this time on criminal charges. The official accusation: assaulting Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebadze.

The incident that led to these charges took place outside the Batumi Police Department, amid a chaotic confrontation. According to the prosecution, Amaglobeli slapped Dgebadze in the face. However, Amaglobeli and her supporters argue that if the act occurred at all, it was a reaction to severe provocation and police abuse.

The primary evidence presented by Amaglobeli’s defense comes from the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA). The organization’s chair, Nona Kurdovanidze, visited Amaglobeli in Rustavi Prison on January 15 and later released a statement detailing alleged abuses by the police. GYLA’s report states that following her detention, Irakli Dgebadze verbally abused Amaglobeli, attempted physical violence against her multiple times, spat in her face, and denied her access to water and restroom facilities.

«"Other officers managed to restrain him and remove him from the room,"..."Later, he returned multiple times and continued his aggressive treatment. In one such instance, he spat in Mzia Amaglobeli’s face, and under his direct orders, she was deprived of drinking water and restroom access for an extended period." »
— the GYLA statement reads.

On January 13, Batumelebi and Netgazeti released a video exposing Dgebadze’s threats and verbal abuse against Amaglobeli. In the footage, Dgebadze can be heard saying:

«I swear I will arrest her with criminal code. I will f* her mother’s c***»

Georgia’s Special Investigative Service was informed of these abuses the day after her arrest. However, the investigation was only initiated on January 22nd—under Article 333 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power), a significantly lesser charge than inhuman and degrading treatment. To date, no police officer has been held accountable.

According to GYLA, Amaglobeli’s detention was unlawful and violent, as evidenced by physical injuries she sustained. According to the conclusion of the medical examination conducted by the Levan Samkharauli Forensic Examination Bureau on the day of her arrest, she had bruises on her left shoulder, injuries caused by blunt force trauma. GYLA has repeatedly petitioned the Prosecutor’s Office and the General Prosecutor himself to recognize Amaglobeli as a victim, yet authorities have refused to provide a written response. As a result, on February 24, GYLA filed an appeal with Tbilisi City Court, requesting that Amaglobeli be granted victim status.

Amaglobeli’s defense appealed the ruling, but the Kutaisi Court of Appeals refused to even hear the case. Legal experts and human rights defenders have denounced the punishment as excessively disproportionate.

Regarding the alleged assault, Dgebadze testified in court that he experienced redness on his right cheek and ear and felt pain. This single piece of evidence was enough for Judge Nino Sakhelashvili of Batumi City Court to order Amaglobeli’s two-month pretrial detention on January 14. She was charged with assaulting a police officer, an offense carrying a sentence of 4 to 7 years in prison.

“For this charge to be valid, three key conditions must be met: the act must constitute an especially violent and aggressive assault, it must be committed with direct intent, and it must be related to the police officer’s official duties. Mzia Amaglobeli’s action—an open-hand slap that allegedly struck Irakli Dgebadze—does not meet any of these conditions,” GYLA explained.

On February 13, Amaglobeli’s lawyers filed a motion in Batumi City Court requesting her release, but Judge Levan Kolbaia rejected the motion outright.

Following this, her legal team appealed the February 14th ruling, demanding its annulment, but the Appeals Court refused to review the case.

Meanwhile, Irakli Kobakhidze has demanded Amaglobeli show remorse. "The main problem here is that we see no remorse. She hit a police officer in the face, and there is zero remorse. Neither from the accused nor from her colleagues. This is extremely disturbing," Kobakhidze declared. His remarks were widely condemned by the international community and civil society, who saw them as an attempt to justify political persecution.

Amaglobeli went on a hunger strike for 38 days, beginning on January 12, the day of her arrest, as a protest against injustice. By February 4, the 24th day of her hunger strike, she was transferred to Vivamed Clinic for urgent medical evaluations before being returned to Rustavi Women’s Penal Colony on February 26.

Notably, Amaglobeli has insisted on personally attending her upcoming court hearing on March 4 in Batumi City Court, alongside her legal team.

The case of this prominent journalist has drawn international criticism. Kaia Kalas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, called Mzia Amaglobeli a symbol of those illegally detained. The Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), representing 14 embassies, issued a joint statement on January 30 calling for Amaglobeli’s immediate release.

Over 300 Georgian journalists, editors, and human rights defenders have demanded her release, warning that her prosecution represents a clear example of democratic backsliding and the suppression of critical voices.

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