21 January 2025, 21:59
Georgian activists demand Amaglobeli's release
The NGO “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” has demanded to stop the criminal prosecution of Mziya Amaglobeli and to fire the Batumi police boss who had detained the journalist.
Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Netgazeti” and Batumelebi” outlets, has gone on a hunger strike in protest against her arrest.
On January 12, ten persons were detained in Batumi, including Ms Amaglobeli. She was detained because of a poster she had pasted on the wall calling for a general strike. Amaglobeli explained that she had been caught in a crush and, while trying to escape, had brushed against Batumi police boss, Irakli Dgebuadze, with her hand. On January 13, she was charged with assaulting a police officer; Amaglobeli faces up to seven years in jail.
The above NGO treats Amaglobeli’s detention as illegal and as a result of political repression. The NGO has called on the Prosecutor's Office (PO) to immediately drop Amaglobeli's case and release her.
After her detention, Amaglobeli was threatened with criminal charges. In the police building, she was not allowed to use the toilet or drink; and they ignored her request to see an advocate, the NGO has added.
NGO activists have pointed out that Amaglobeli’s actions (slapping) cannot be qualified under the criminal article on assaulting a policeman.
“Amaglobeli’s actions could not even cause any physical pain, which excludes criminal liability not only under this article, but also under other, milder articles of the Criminal Code. Thus, criminal charges against Amaglobeli take the form of intimidation and political repressions," the NGO’s statement says.
Nino Zuriashvili, the founder of the Monitor Studio, has called Amaglobeli "a unique journalist who has never collaborated with politicians." "Authorities’ plan was to stop her; therefore, they detained her," she has expressed her opinion.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 20, 2025 at 06:03 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Inna Kukudjanova, Galina Gotua Source: СK correspondents
