Expert says redness on police official's face did not indicate injury in media manager’s case

In the ongoing trial of Georgian media manager Mzia Amaghlobeli, medical expert Givi Chkhartishvili testified that redness on Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze’s face did not constitute evidence of injury.

Chkhartishvili, who examined Dgebuadze following the alleged altercation, stated in court that the police chief reported slight pain in his right earlobe. However, the expert clarified that pain was a "subjective concept" and not an objective indicator of injury.

"Redness is not an objective sign of injury; therefore, it is not within my field of assessment," Chkhartishvili told the court, responding to defense lawyer Maia Mtsariashvili’s questions. He further explained that as a forensic expert, he could not assess pain or redness without objective evidence of harm.

The case has attracted significant international attention. Diplomats from Germany, Sweden, and Estonia, along with European Parliamentarian Lena Schilling, attended the hearing at Batumi City Court. Outside, supporters of Amaghlobeli gathered, chanting, “freedom to the regime’s prisoners!”

Amaghlobeli, founder of independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was first detained on January 11 for placing a protest sticker on a police department fence. She was re-arrested on January 12 after allegedly slapping Dgebuadze. She now faces charges under Article 353 Prima of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which could result in a prison sentence of four to seven years.

The journalist’s detention has drawn condemnation from international organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists and Amnesty International, which view her arrest as part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Georgia.