The trial and conviction of Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli violated international fair trial standards and amounted to an abuse of legal process, according to a new report by TrialWatch, a program of the Clooney Foundation for Justice that monitored the case.
"The criminal proceedings against Mzia Amaghlobeli gave rise to a series of violations of international human rights standards that cumulatively and gravely undermined the fairness of the proceedings," said Sir Nicolas Bratza, former president of the European Court of Human Rights and a member of the TrialWatch experts panel.
Amaghlobeli, the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested in Batumi on January 11-12, 2025, following a confrontation with police during a protest. She was initially charged with assaulting a police officer, an offense punishable by four to seven years in prison. On August 6, the day the verdict was delivered, the court reclassified the charge to resistance against an official and sentenced her to two years in prison. She remained in custody throughout the pretrial period.
TrialWatch identified multiple procedural shortcomings during the proceedings. According to the report, the defense was restricted in its ability to present evidence and call witnesses who could have supported Amaghlobeli's account of events. The report also criticized her placement in a glass enclosure during hearings, stating that it "restricted communication with counsel and hindered her ability to participate fully in her defense."
The sudden change in charges was described as particularly harmful. The report said the reclassification left Amaghlobeli with "no meaningful opportunity to respond or prepare a defense against the new elements of the offense" for which she was ultimately convicted.
TrialWatch also faulted the court for failing to address inconsistencies in prosecution witness testimony, allegations of ill-treatment, and defense claims of procedural violations. It added that the judgment did not adequately explain why a custodial sentence was imposed instead of alternative measures.
The report further stated that Amaghlobeli's right to the presumption of innocence was undermined by public remarks made before the verdict by senior Georgian Dream officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
"These deficiencies in the trial, including the sudden reclassification of the charges, were not substantively cured on appeal," the report said, adding that the appellate court "minimized the relevance and value of defense evidence."
TrialWatch concluded that the case involved documented violations of Amaghlobeli's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, finding that the proceedings were "unfair and in breach of the presumption of innocence."
