Georgia: IFJ urges authorities to release journalist Mzia Amaglobeli

Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder and director of the media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, announced on 20 January that she has been on hunger strike since 12 January after being abused while held in detention. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges Georgia's authorities to release Amaglobeli immediately and to stop its crackdown on journalists and independent media.

Credit: Batumelebi

Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli was first arrested on 11 January after putting a sticker about the general strike planned for 15 January on a fence of the Adjara Police Department in the city of Batumi. She was released on bail the following day. A demonstration against her arrest was held outside the police station where she was being detained. While speaking with the demonstrators, the police started arresting some of them. Tensions mounted and Amaglobeli then allegedly slapped Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze.

Amaglobeli was then arrested again and charged with "assault on a police officer", an accusation that is punishable by four to seven years in prison. On 14 January, Amaglobeli was ordered to remain in pre-trial detention. Her lawyers say that Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze verbally abused her, spat in her face and was violent with her at the police station. They also say that she was mistreated during detention. Amaglobeli is the first woman journalist in Georgia to be recognised as a prisoner of conscience.

On 20 January, the journalist announced a hunger strike, consuming only water. In a letter published by Netgazeti, she wrote: "These processes have been unfolding over the past year and are embedding themselves into our daily lives as a dictatorship. I refuse to accept the regime's agenda […]. Freedom is far more valuable than life, and it is at stake. Fight before it is too late."

In Georgia, over 300 journalists, editors and media managers released, on 24 January, a joint statement demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger joined in with the demand and stated: "Mzia Amaglobeli's arrest is unacceptable and unfair, she must be immediately released. We condemn the unprecedented crackdown on the media and we urge Georgian authorities to stop targeting media workers and release all unjustly imprisoned journalists.