Hungry journalists challenge Georgia’s government

“I won’t succumb to this regime. I won’t play by the rules,” oath journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who had been on a hunger strike in Georgia prison for 25 days.

Her health is declining and relatives are terrified of her life. She was taken to the hospital for treatment this week.

Amaglobeli, 49, has been in every detention since late November when she slapped a police chief during night protests.

They accused the government of taking elections and rejecting the future of EU countries.

Georgia’s increasingly authoritarian administration says she committed serious criminal offenses, but her pretrial detention makes her a symbol of resistance.

Amaglobaili wrote in a letter from Rustavi prison: “Today is me, tomorrow may be any daring to dream of a just, democratic state of Georgia in Europe, without the influence of Russia. , not affected by oppression.”

The EU’s Human Rights Commissioner said the pretrial detention of her assault on police was unreasonable.

Fourteen foreign embassies in Georgia demanded Amaglobailey’s immediate release of her case and described her detention as another worrying example of Georgia journalists’ intimidation.

Mzia Amaglobeli was detained twice on January 11 in a highly controversial situation while protesting against the Georgian Dream Government in the Black Sea port of Batumi.

A video that was repeatedly promoted in state media showed her gently slapping the Chief Batumi Police on the cheek.

Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemned her actions.

“Everyone must understand that police are inviolable, and police represent the power of the country and the country,” Kobakidez said in a press conference.

If convicted of assault, she faces four to seven years in prison.

Amaglobeli is one of hundreds of protesters arrested in Georgia. Opposition leaders are detained and in some cases injured by pro-government thugs.

Photos of journalists as well as calling for her release decorated in Tbilisi’s main protest sites as well as her hometown of Batumi.

Her family, friends and colleagues described her as a peaceful, peaceful and hardworking person who founded the Batumi news website Batumelebi in 2001 with her business partner Eter Turadze.

They went on to launch the national news website Netgazeti, which are now seen as just and trustworthy news sources in Georgia’s polarized media.

The third floor office in Batumelebi looks at the snow-capped Ajara Mountains. Georgia flag hangs from the balcony next to the flags of the EU and Ukraine.

“Mzia is well known in the press, but she is not the public,” said civil rights activist Malkaz Chkonia.

“She was only 25 years old and was a brave young journalist when she founded the newspaper Batumelebi, a fight for freedom of speech, and defended human rights through different government regimes in the country.”

Her niece Iveta grew up with Mzia and described her as a workaholic.

She was still in the office the night she was arrested and most of the staff returned to the evening.

Colleague and investigative journalist Irma Dimidtradze said her boss did not participate in the daily anti-government protests.

But when Amaglobeli learned that a friend was one of several protesters detained for the upcoming general strike, she rushed to the police station.

“People are shouting ‘stand that posters are not crimes,’ and to prove that it is not crimes, Mzia did the same thing.”

A few weeks ago, as the protests progressed, the Georgian Dream Government banned masks during the protests and added fines for “inscribes or drawings” on buildings.

Amaglobeli was captured on a videotape and attached a poster to the walls of the police station, and was taken away by several officers.

“We later learned in the police report that she was disobeying the police’s legal orders and she swore and insulted them,” said Irma Dimitradze.

She was charged with administrative offences and released. Her niece Iveta was waiting for her with other relatives: “When Mzia came out, I even joked, ‘Look, if you want a day off, you don’t need to do that.”

But the situation soon escalated and more arrests followed.

Amoglobeli is seen fighting against Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgeubadze. She grabbed him with her sleeve and patted him as he walked away.

The footage taken a few minutes later showed her being taken away by the police.

On the camera, she was ridiculed by high threats and abuse of language, and witnesses said it was the voice of the police chief.

Amaglobeli’s lawyer said he later spitted on her face and refused to give her water or toilet. She was also denied contact with her lawyer for several hours.

Prosecutor Batumi argued that her slap was motivated by “revenge.” A judge denied bail from her legal team and returned her to her for pre-trial custody.

In the dock, Amaglobeli looks rebellious, wearing a blue hoodie and holding a copy of the book by Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa, “How to Resist” Dictator: Fight for our future.”

Twenty days after her hunger strike on January 31, Georgia’s Special Prison Service urged Amaglobeli to stop “in the best interest of health.”

Georgian leader in parliament Mamuka Mdinaradze said portraying her as “a man who committed great heroism…she should start eating and everything will end” is Wrong.

Another leading light of the party, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, suggested that Amaglobeli could come out and admit “I made a mistake and I apologize” because Batumi is a dignified policeman.

However, several groups said that it was wrong to detain her first. The Georgian Young Bar Association said her prosecution was “politically motivated.”

According to Transparent International Georgia, hundreds of protesters have been detained, beaten and treated inhumane since the beginning of the EU protests.

More than 90 journalists were attacked and their equipment was damaged.

No police are facing charges.

Georgia’s Independent Special Investigation Services Bureau investigated the allegations against officials, which said it had been initiated by “certain employees of the Georgia Department of the Interior” to investigate possible abuses in the Amaghlobeli case.

It said 10 police officers, including Chief Batumi Police, were questioned as witnesses. No one was suspended.

She will be brought to court on March 4.