Fifth President Zourabichvili condemns sentencing of media manager, calls it sign of ‘regime paralysis’

Georgia’s fifth President Salome Zourabichvili has criticised the sentencing of media manager and journalist Mzia Amaglobeli to two years in prison, calling it a “reflection of a government in crisis and lacking moral authority.”

Speaking outside Batumi City Court after the verdict was delivered on Wednesday, Zourabichvili hailed Amaglobeli as “a symbol of strength” and said her defiance had served as an inspiration in the face of political repression.

“This fight does not end here. We witnessed Mzia’s total resolve - a powerful source of hope and an inspiration for us all,” Zourabichvili said.

Amaglobeli, the founder and director of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was found guilty under Article 353(1) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns resistance, threat, or violence against a public official. The judge, Nino Sakhelashvili, reclassified the original, more serious charge of assaulting a police officer, but still sentenced Amaglobeli to two years in prison.

Zourabichvili accused the government of issuing a politically motivated sentence and condemned what she called a lack of institutional integrity.

“This shows that the regime no longer has the courage to either defend its own actions or reverse its mistakes. It is stuck in a neutral zone, hoping to slip away unnoticed - but it won’t,” she said.

“This is not the ruling we hoped for - we expected Mzia’s release. But under this regime, we cannot expect fairness. What we witnessed was the system saving itself and punishing those who refuse to play by its rules.”

Zourabichvili also argued that the ruling party’s actions were distancing Georgia from its European future.

“With this verdict, they are sending a message to the European Union that they want out. But this is not the will of the Georgian people - and no one can stand in the way of that will,” she said.

Amaglobeli was arrested on the night of 11–12 January during a protest in Batumi against halted EU integration. She was initially charged under Article 353¹ for assaulting a police officer - a charge carrying up to seven years in prison. 

Her legal team claimed the conviction was “politically motivated” and planned to appeal the decision.