Widespread Outcry in Georgia as Journalists Demand Release of Mzia Amaghlobeli

May 28, 2025 – Georgia – 

Over 300 journalists in Georgia have united in protest, demanding the immediate release of their colleague Mzia Amaghlobeli, a respected media figure detained under controversial circumstances. Amaghlobeli, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Publika, was arrested in January 2025 after covering a peaceful protest in Tbilisi. Her detention has sparked widespread criticism from both domestic and international media organizations, who view the move as part of a growing trend of media repression in the country.

According to reports, Amaghlobeli was charged with disobeying police orders during the protest. However, eyewitness accounts and video footage suggest she was performing her journalistic duties and did not interfere with law enforcement. Her arrest has been widely condemned as politically motivated and aimed at silencing critical voices in the press.

Georgia’s media community has responded swiftly, organizing statements, petitions, and protests calling for her release. Many see her case as emblematic of the increasing pressure on journalists in Georgia, where freedom of expression has been under strain due to government hostility toward independent media. Local journalists argue that Amaghlobeli’s arrest is not an isolated incident but part of a broader crackdown meant to intimidate reporters and stifle dissent.

International organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have echoed these concerns, urging the Georgian government to respect press freedom and due process. They have also called on the authorities to drop the charges and end the harassment of independent media.

Amaghlobeli’s legal team has filed an appeal, and rights defenders continue to push for transparency and fairness in the proceedings. Meanwhile, protests in her support are ongoing, with many journalists refusing to remain silent in the face of what they describe as an attack on the very foundation of democracy.

As the situation unfolds, Mzia Amaghlobeli’s case has become a rallying point for defenders of press freedom in Georgia and a test of the government’s commitment to democratic norms.

Reference – 

https://civil.ge/archives/684210

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Over 300 journalists in Georgia call for Mzia Amaglobeli’s release