Verdict Looms for Jailed Georgian Media Founder Mzia Amaghlobeli Amid Outcry Over Press Freedom

The fate of Mzia Amaghlobeli, the prominent founder of independent Georgian media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, hangs in the balance as Batumi City Court is set to deliver its verdict on August 6. Amaghlobeli faces up to seven years in prison on charges of "assaulting a police officer," a case widely condemned by critics as politically motivated and a stark symbol of the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in Georgia.

Amaghlobeli's legal troubles began on January 11, when she was initially detained for placing a sticker calling for a nationwide strike on a fence outside a police station in Batumi. This act was in protest of her colleague Tsiala Katamidze's detention for a similar action. Shortly after her release, she was re-arrested following a heated exchange with Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze, during which she slapped him.

Throughout the court proceedings, Amaghlobeli has detailed the degrading treatment she allegedly endured after the incident, including being spat on by Dgebuadze, subjected to verbal abuse, and denied access to a toilet. Video footage of her arrest, shown during a May hearing, reportedly captured Dgebuadze insulting and threatening her, with remarks like, "I fucking swear, I’ll arrest her under the criminal [code] […] I’ll fuck her mother’s pussy." Dgebuadze later stated the voice "sounds like" his and admitted to possibly using obscene language, though he did not confirm Amaghlobeli's specific allegations of abuse.

The verdict, initially expected on August 4, was postponed to August 6, a delay that Batumelebi's editor-in-chief, Eter Turadze, described as the court "struggling with the weight of the [verdict]." During her final statement on August 4, Amaghlobeli defiantly rejected a plea deal that would have required her to admit guilt in exchange for a reduced sentence. She firmly stated, "what happened was not an assault. Framing and packaging a slap as an act of violence is an act of malice. What kind of justice is that? I honestly don’t know."

Despite 205 days of imprisonment, including a 38-day hunger strike that severely impacted her eyesight, Amaghlobeli remains resolute. "And still, whatever decision you make, I want you to know that I consider myself a winner," she told Judge Nino Sakhelashvili. She added, "This verdict will not be my punishment alone. It will be yours too, dear prosecutors. It will be a professional sentence for everyone involved in this case on behalf of the state."

Amaghlobeli's case has drawn extensive condemnation both within Georgia and internationally, with many pointing to the disproportionate nature of the charges. Batumelebi has highlighted past cases where even severe physical attacks on police officers were not classified as "assaulting a police officer," resulting in much lighter sentences.

Fourteen international press freedom groups, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have called for an end to her "discriminatory and excessive persecution" and demanded her immediate release. In July, the European Parliament echoed this sentiment, demanding her "immediate and unconditional release" and the dropping of all "politically motivated charges."

The trial has been closely monitored by EU politicians and diplomats, with representatives from the diplomatic missions of the EU, France, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Ambassador to Georgia attending hearings. Former President Salome Zourabichvili has also shown her support by attending court sessions.

Domestically, Amaghlobeli has become a powerful symbol of government repression and attacks on media and civil society. Supporters from across Georgia, including schoolteachers, civic activists, and even mothers of other detained protesters, have rallied outside the courthouse. Ioane Romanadze, a Tbilisi-based TikTok influencer, articulated the sentiment: "Mzia isn’t just one person behind bars — she represents the entire free press." Another supporter, Irma Gordeladze, believes the state is trying to "make an example" of Amaghlobeli to spread fear.

Georgian Dream officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, have promoted the theory that Amaghlobeli acted on prior instructions as part of a plan to discredit the Georgian police, with Kobakhidze calling her actions "party-political violence" and stating she "needs to repent." Amaghlobeli's lawyers have announced their intention to sue the Prime Minister for defamation over these claims. Amaghlobeli herself has directly challenged these political accusations, stating, "Don’t think that these statements come from random people — they come from those in power, from representatives of the ruling political team."

As the August 6 verdict approaches, the case of Mzia Amaghlobeli transcends a simple legal dispute. It has become a focal point in the broader struggle for judicial independence, press freedom, and democratic values in Georgia. Amaghlobeli's final message to her supporters resonates with this larger fight: "Wherever you are, remember — the voice and strength that come from you carry immense energy... So don’t lose faith in your power. There is still time. The fight continues, until victory! Freedom for all political prisoners. We are not criminals."