“Journalist’s Brave Stand Against Injustice: The Story of Mzia Amaglobeli”
Defiant in the face of adversity, journalist Mzia Amaglobeli declared, “I refuse to conform to this oppressive regime. I will not be bound by its arbitrary laws.” After 25 days of a hunger strike in a Georgian prison, the founder of two news websites in Georgia, Amaglobeli, finds her health deteriorating as her loved ones fear for her life. She was recently hospitalized for medical treatment.
Amaglobeli, aged 49, has been in pre-trial detention ever since an incident where she slapped a police chief during nightly protests that have been sweeping across Georgia since the end of November. These protests stem from accusations against the government for election rigging and abandonment of the country’s European Union aspirations.
While the government claims that Amaglobeli committed a serious criminal offense, her detention has transformed her into a symbol of resistance against an increasingly authoritarian regime. In a letter from Rustavi prison, near Tbilisi, she wrote, “Today it is me, but tomorrow it could be anyone daring to envision a just, democratic European Georgia free from Russian influence and oppression.”
Despite the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner deeming her detention unjustified, Georgia’s government remains steadfast in its stance. Fourteen foreign embassies in Georgia have demanded her immediate release and a thorough review of her case, denouncing her detention as a troubling instance of journalist intimidation.
Amaglobeli’s ordeal began on January 11th under controversial circumstances during protests in Batumi against the Georgian Dream government. A video widely circulated by state media captured her lightly slapping the Batumi police chief. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemned her actions, emphasizing the inviolability of police officers as representatives of the state.
Should she be found guilty of assault, Amaglobeli faces a potential imprisonment of four to seven years. Her story is just one among many in a wave of arrests targeting hundreds of protesters across Georgia, including opposition leaders who have faced violence at the hands of pro-government groups.
Amidst the calls for her freedom, photos of Amaglobeli grace the main protest sites in Tbilisi and Batumi, her hometown. Her family, friends, and colleagues describe her as a peaceful, dedicated individual who co-founded the Batumi news website Batumelebi in 2001. Alongside her business partner Eter Turadze, they later established the national news website Netgazeti, both recognized for their impartial and reliable reporting in Georgia’s media landscape.
The offices of Batumelebi overlook the picturesque Ajara mountains, adorned with the Georgian flag alongside those of the EU and Ukraine. Civil rights activist Malkaz Chkadua, a participant in the Batumi protests, praises Amaglobeli’s unwavering commitment to freedom of expression and human rights advocacy despite facing adversity under various government regimes.
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Radze’s boss had not been participating in the daily anti-government protests, but when Amaglobeli found out that a friend had been detained for putting up posters for an upcoming general strike, she hurried to the police station. Dimitradze shared, “People were chanting ‘sticking up posters is not a crime,’ and to prove that, Mzia did the same thing.”
Earlier, the Georgian Dream government had banned face masks at protests and increased fines for making “inscriptions or drawings” on building facades as the protests gained momentum. Amaglobeli was caught on video attaching a poster to a police station wall before being taken away by officers. Dimitradze stated, “We later found out from the police report that she allegedly disobeyed a lawful order and insulted them, which was untrue.”
She was charged with an administrative offense, released, and reunited with her family. However, more arrests ensued as tensions escalated. Amaglobeli confronted Batumi police chief Irakli Dgeubadze, grabbing his sleeve and slapping him, leading to further police intervention.
Despite being subjected to taunts and mistreatment, Amaglobeli’s lawyers claim that the police chief spat on her, denied her water and access to facilities, and prevented her from contacting her legal team for hours. She was remanded in pre-trial custody after a judge rejected bail, with prosecutors alleging that her actions were driven by revenge.
In court, Amaglobeli appeared defiant, wearing a blue hoody and holding a copy of a book by Nobel Prize-winner Maria Ressa. Twenty days into her hunger strike, the Special Penitentiary Service urged her to stop for the sake of her health.
Figureheads within the Georgian Dream party suggested she admit wrongdoing, while critics highlighted the political motivations behind her prosecution. Transparency International Georgia reports numerous instances of protesters being mistreated and journalists being attacked during the protests.
An investigation is ongoing into potential abuse of power by certain officials in Amaglobeli’s case. Despite the involvement of multiple police officers, including the chief of Batumi’s police, no suspensions have been announced.
In the courtroom on the 4th of March.
As a journalist, it’s important to adhere to the principles of accuracy, fairness, and integrity in reporting the news. With that in mind, let’s dive into the events that unfolded in the courtroom on the 4th of March.
On that fateful day, the bustling courtroom was filled with anticipation and tension as a high-profile case took center stage. The air was thick with a sense of gravity, as all eyes were fixed on the proceedings that were about to transpire. The judge presiding over the case exuded an aura of authority, commanding respect and attention from all those present.
As the case unfolded, the facts were laid bare for all to see. The prosecution presented their arguments with precision and eloquence, weaving a narrative that sought to convince the jury of the defendant’s guilt. Meanwhile, the defense mounted a vigorous defense, employing legal acumen and strategic maneuvers to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.
Witnesses took the stand one by one, their testimonies painting a vivid picture of the events that led to the courtroom drama unfolding before our eyes. Emotions ran high as conflicting accounts clashed, revealing the complex web of relationships and motives that underpinned the case.
Amidst the legal wrangling and courtroom theatrics, the defendant sat stoically, their expression betraying little of the turmoil raging within. The weight of the accusations leveled against them was palpable, yet they remained resolute in their determination to proclaim their innocence.
As the trial progressed, revelations came to light that sent shockwaves through the courtroom. Secrets were exposed, alliances were tested, and the true nature of the case began to emerge from the shadows. With each new development, the tension in the courtroom ratcheted up another notch, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.
Finally, after hours of deliberation, the jury retired to consider their verdict. The courtroom fell silent as the fate of the defendant hung in the balance. Every eye was trained on the jury room, waiting with bated breath for the decision that would seal the defendant’s fate.
When the jury returned, the tension in the courtroom reached its peak. The foreperson stood, their voice steady as they delivered the verdict that would bring the trial to its dramatic conclusion. Whether justice was served or denied, only time would tell.
And so, the events that unfolded in the courtroom on the 4th of March will linger in the memories of all those who bore witness. It was a day marked by high stakes, intense emotions, and the unrelenting pursuit of truth and justice. As a journalist, it is my duty to capture these moments with honesty and integrity, ensuring that the story is told in all its complexity and nuance.
