A demonstration is underway in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi in support of Mzia Amaglobeli, Director of media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. Media representatives have gathered to protest the Kutaisi Court of Appeals’ January 21 decision to dismiss the appeal for a change in Amaglobeli’s pretrial detention. The protesters are demanding her release.
Mzia Amaglobeli was arrested on January 11, 2025, on the orders of Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze. She is accused of “assaulting a police officer,” a charge carrying a potential sentence of 4 to 7 years in prison.
The court initially imposed pretrial detention as a preventive measure, a decision that was subsequently appealed. However, the Kutaisi Court of Appeals rejected the appeal, leaving the detention order in place.
On January 21, Georgia’s Public Defender, Levan Ioseliani, visited Amaglobeli. He expressed hope that the appellate court would consider the circumstances outlined in the amicus curiae brief and evaluate the proportionality and justification of the preventive measure applied against Amaglobeli.
