Tamar Rukhadze appointed acting director of Netgazeti and Batumelebi amid detention of Mzia Amaglobeli

Tamar Rukhadze has been appointed as acting director of online media outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, while the current director and co-founder Mzia Amaglobeli remains in detention.

Rukhadze has extensive experience in both print and broadcast media. She previously served as Executive Director of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics and worked as the Content and Training Manager for USAID’s Media Program.

Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent media figure and a journalist, has been in prison since January 11, 2025. Several respected human rights organizations and observers have described her imprisonment as politically motivated and unlawful. In protest against what she called unjust detention, Amaglobeli went on a hunger strike for 38 days. On the 24th day, she was transferred to a clinic due to health concerns and was only returned to prison after ending the strike.

She was initially detained on January 11 under administrative charges, briefly released, and then re-arrested on January 12 on criminal charges for allegedly slapping a police officer. Legal experts have questioned the validity of the charges, citing inconsistencies with the case circumstances and pointing to possible political motives.