GYLA Condemns the Detention of Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Ongoing protests across Georgia have sparked widespread outrage following the detention of Mzia Amaghlobeli, the director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) has denounced the detention and criminal prosecution of Amaghlobeli as "unlawful" and labeled it a form of political repression.
The case has raised significant concerns regarding freedom of expression, legal procedures, and political persecution.
According to GYLA, the initial detention of Amaghlobeli on January 11 for posting stickers was arbitrary and baseless. The act, they argued, does not constitute an administrative offense and could not justify detention. Despite this, the police cited Article 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code, alleging non-compliance with a lawful order.
"No formal administrative offense report has been created, nor has a court confirmed that an offense was committed," GYLA emphasized, accusing authorities of fabricating the justification for the arrest.
Amaghlobeli's second detention on January 12 escalated the controversy. She was charged under Article 353 Prima of the Georgian Criminal Code, which pertains to an attack on a police officer. GYLA argued that none of the necessary elements-such as assault or intent-were present in the incident.
"Mzia Amaghlobeli's actions could not have caused physical pain, which excludes the applicability of this article or any lesser criminal charge," the watchdog stated. They called the charges politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of repression against dissent.
GYLA also pointed to numerous procedural violations in the handling of the case. The Batumi City Court delayed forwarding Amaghlobeli's complaint to the Kutaisi Court of Appeals, missing the deadline by four days. Moreover, the watchdog criticized the use of Amaghlobeli's administrative detention to justify pretrial custody, calling it a clear violation of her presumption of innocence.
"The court demonstrated bias in favor of the prosecution by accepting abstract claims about the risks of new offenses and destruction of evidence," GYLA said.
GYLA highlighted disturbing allegations of verbal and physical abuse during Amaghlobeli's detention. According to their report, a police officer, identified as Dgebuadze, spat on Amaghlobeli and attempted physical abuse before being stopped by colleagues.
Amaghlobeli also claimed she was denied basic necessities, such as access to drinking water, and her repeated requests to contact her lawyers were ignored for hours.
GYLA criticized the court's decision to remand Amaghlobeli in custody, stating it violated the Georgian Code of Criminal Procedure. Detention, they noted, should be an exceptional measure, with alternative preventive actions preferred.
"The court unconditionally accepted the prosecution's request, ignoring procedural safeguards and showing bias against Amaghlobeli," the watchdog said.
