Georgian PM claims arrested media manager Amaglobeli ‘tried to undermine’ law enforcement

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused arrested media manager Mzia Amaglobeli of attempting to weaken Georgia’s law enforcement agencies and defended the government’s legal response to her actions.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Kobakhidze said “Mzia Amaglobeli carried out a specific order. She attempted to undermine the law enforcement agencies, the police, but she received exactly the response that such an action should receive in a legal state.”

He further added “this has offended those who are trying to weaken the statehood of Georgia. This will not work; we will defend the interests of our state to the end.”

Amaglobeli, a well-known journalist and founder of independent outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested on 11 January 2025 during protests in Batumi against the government’s delay of European Union accession talks.

She was initially detained for placing a protest sticker on a police station wall promoting a planned general strike. Following her release, Amaglobeli was re-arrested after an alleged physical altercation with Batumi’s police chief, during which she reportedly slapped him.

She faces charges under Article 353, Part 1 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which carries a prison sentence of four to seven years.

Her detention has sparked condemnation from human rights groups and international bodies, including the European Parliament, which adopted a resolution calling for her immediate and unconditional release. Critics say her arrest reflects a broader crackdown on independent media and political dissent in Georgia.