Lawyers demand medical monitoring for imprisoned media manager on 38th day of hunger strike

The legal representatives of Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti media outlets, on Tuesday called for a medical team organized by the Public Defender to re-enter Vivamedi Tbilisi clinic to assess her health. Amaglobeli has been on a hunger strike for 38 days, raising concerns about her well-being.

Amaglobeli’s lawyer, Maia Mtsariashvili, emphasised the urgency of the situation in her press comments.

“We will continue to take steps to ensure that the Public Defender arranges another visit by doctors, allowing them to examine her, communicate with her, and take necessary measures. It is clear that our medical arguments may not be solid, whereas the doctors’ assessment is more substantial. We will likely appeal to the Public Defender again today, as considerable time has passed since the last visit. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association will also release a statement, and we will submit a written appeal to the Ombudsman,” Mtsariashvili said.

Meanwhile, Zurab Chkhaidze, the clinical director of Vivamedi clinic, urged Amaglobeli’s colleagues, family members, and legal representatives to persuade her to comply with doctors’ recommendations, particularly regarding food intake, to prevent a life-threatening outcome.

Davit Matikashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday dismissed the notion that Amaglobeli’s hunger strike could “pressure the state”.

“It must be made clear to everyone that blackmailing the state is impossible. Using Amaglobeli as a tool for political pressure will not succeed,” Matikashvili told journalists. He further urged her to end the hunger strike, cooperate with the ongoing investigation, and prioritize her health.

Amaglobeli was arrested in Batumi, western Georgia, in mid-January during protests against halted EU integration, for slapping a police official. Her legal team claims the police official had insulted Amaglobeli and that no one in the country had faced criminal charges for such an incident. If found guilty, Amaglobeli may be sentenced up to seven years in prison.