Georgian journalist jailed for slapping police chief at January protest

The Batumi City Court in Georgia has sentenced Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of the opposition online outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, to two years in prison.

Georgian media reported that Amaglobeli was arrested on January 12, 2025, after slapping Irakli Dgebuadze, then-chief of the Batumi police, during a protest that called for the release of detainees held following a pro-European rally in the city, per Caliber.Az.

The court ruled that Amaglobeli’s actions amounted to “resisting a police officer in the line of duty.” However, the Georgian prosecutor’s office had pushed for a more severe interpretation, arguing that her actions constituted “assaulting a police officer in the line of duty.”

Amaglobeli’s legal team insisted on her acquittal, arguing that the slap had not caused any physical harm to Dgebuadze. Amaglobeli herself claimed the act was driven by emotion, stating she had no intention to attack the officer.

The trial has drawn widespread attention in Georgia, becoming one of the most controversial court cases in recent years. The case sparked strong reactions from European officials, with members of the European Parliament, EU foreign ministers, and major international organisations calling for Amaglobeli’s release. A number of European ambassadors even attended the court hearings in Batumi in a show of support.

Despite these appeals, many European observers stressed that no act of violence against law enforcement officers should go unpunished, especially when they are carrying out their duties to protect public order.

The Georgian government has firmly denied any political motivation behind the charges. However, the opposition has labelled Amaglobeli a political prisoner, arguing that the ruling is part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

By Tamilla Hasanova