Georgian rights group files new ECHR complaint on behalf of arrested media manager Amaglobeli

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has filed a new complaint to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Mzia Amaglobeli, an arrested media manager.

At a briefing, GYLA chair Nona Kurdovanidze said the submission concerns administrative procedures applied to Amaglobeli before criminal charges were issued. According to her, Amaglobeli was first detained under administrative rules and given two separate violation protocols for the same incident - one for disobeying a lawful police order under Article 173, and another for distorting public appearance by placing a sticker during pro-European protests.

Kurdovanidze said the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Tbilisi City Court and the Court of Appeal all issued unlawful decisions that resulted in fines of ₾2,000 and ₾1,000. She argued that both the administrative detention and the sanctions contradict Georgian legislation and breach rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, including liberty and security, a fair trial, and freedom of expression.

“We argue that Mzia Amaglobeli’s administrative detention was entirely baseless,” Kurdovanidze said.