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February 05, 2025 – Georgia –
Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was transferred from prison to the Vivamedi clinic in early 2025 amid mounting concerns over her health. Amaglobeli was arrested on January 12, 2025, during a protest in Batumi, where she was charged with assaulting a police officer—a charge she and her supporters strongly dispute, arguing it was politically motivated. The protest itself was part of broader demonstrations calling for new elections and opposing the government’s suspension of Georgia’s European Union accession plans.
In response to her detention and the charges she faced, Amaglobeli began a hunger strike on January 20, 2025, to protest her imprisonment and highlight the government’s crackdown on independent journalism. Her hunger strike lasted nearly 38 days, drawing both national and international attention to her plight. During this period, concerns grew about the toll the strike was taking on her health.
On February 18, 2025, Amaglobeli ended her hunger strike, citing the tragic deaths of two children in Batumi and expressing a sense of responsibility to her supporters. Shortly after ending the strike, she was transferred to the Vivamedi clinic for medical evaluation and treatment, a move confirmed by her legal team. This transfer was significant as it acknowledged the serious health risks she faced after weeks without adequate nutrition.
Following her treatment at the clinic, Amaglobeli was returned to the penitentiary facility to continue serving her detention. Her transfer to the clinic highlighted the physical strain and risks that detained journalists endure, especially when resorting to hunger strikes as a form of protest.
Amaglobeli’s case has become emblematic of the increasing repression faced by independent media in Georgia. International organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have condemned her detention and called for her release. They view her situation as part of a broader pattern of government efforts to silence dissent and restrict press freedom in the country.
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