CPJ urges Georgian authorities to release media founder Amaglobeli and reporter Murvanidze

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Georgian authorities to release journalist Guram Murvanidze and investigate whether Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent journalist and media founder, is facing retaliatory charges for her work.

Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder and director of independent news outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, and Guram Murvanidze, a cameraman and reporter for Batumelebi, were arrested on January 11 in the western city of Batumi during protests demanding a re-run of Georgia’s disputed October 2024 election.

On January 14, the Batumi City Court sentenced Murvanidze to eight days’ detention on charges of minor hooliganism and disobeying police orders. Murvanidze had been filming the protests at the time of his arrest. The court also placed Amaglobeli in pretrial detention on charges of attacking a police officer, an offense carrying a mandatory prison term of four to seven years.

Although Amaglobeli was not covering the protests when arrested, her lawyer and human rights activists suspect her detention and the charges are retaliation for her outlets’ critical reporting on alleged abuses by Georgian authorities, including the police.

“The lengthy prison term facing Mzia Amaglobeli appears disproportionate and raises legitimate concerns that her prosecution is being used to silence the media outlets she runs,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Georgian authorities should release Amaglobeli and Batumelebi video reporter Guram Murvanidze, and ensure an impartial investigation of the circumstances of Amaglobeli’s detention.”

Georgia’s Public Defender’s Office criticized the court’s decision to detain Amaglobeli pending trial, noting the lack of justification. Her lawyer, Juba Katamadze, argued that the alleged slap to Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze does not merit the serious “attack” charge. Transparency International’s local office echoed these concerns.

CPJ contacted the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and the spokesperson for the Adjara Regional Police Department for comments but received no response.