Fifth President Zourabichvili condemns media manager Amaghlobeli trial as 'political persecution'

Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zourabichvili, on Monday denounced the ongoing criminal proceedings against media manager Mzia Amaghlobeli as a case of “political persecution,” accusing the justice system of using the courts as a tool of intimidation.

In a social media post following Monday’s hearing, Zourabichvili said the treatment of Amaghlobeli - founder of the independent outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti - highlighted what she described as the politically motivated nature of the case.

“Today once again showed that this is not a legal process - this is political persecution,” Zourabichvili wrote. “Mzia Amaghlobeli is being subjected to endless delays and inhumane conditions in an effort to break her spirit.”

She further accused the authorities of misusing judicial mechanisms not to deliver justice but to suppress dissent.

“The system had all the time it needed. This is not the postponement of justice - it is the abuse of justice,” she added.

Amaghlobeli is currently on trial for assaulting Batumi’s police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze - a charge she strongly denies, calling it part of a broader campaign to silence critical journalists. The final verdict in her case is expected to be delivered by Judge Nino Sakhelashvili on 6 August, at 14:00.