Despite the defense's efforts, the Kutaisi Court of Appeals upheld the first-instance ruling that sentenced Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the Batumelebi newspaper group, to two years in prison.
The journalist's lawyers filed an appeal to overturn the sentence and demanded her release, while the prosecutor's office demanded an increase in the defendant's charges and punishment.
Mzia Amaglobeli herself was present at the hearing on November 18. Taking the floor, she stated that she feared not imprisonment, but that by the time she left, Georgia would have become a country that no longer fights for freedom and was conquered without tanks.
On October 22, Mzia Amaglobeli was awarded the European Union's highest human rights award, the Sakharov Prize. In early November, the journalist received another award—the Free Media Award.
In August of this year, the Batumi City Court sentenced the journalist to two years in prison. She was found guilty under Article 353 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which pertains to resisting, threatening, or using violence against a law enforcement officer or other public official. Penalties under this article range from a fine and house arrest to a prison term of two to six years.
Following the verdict, 24 diplomatic missions issued a unified statement, including missions of EU countries, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as the embassies of Ukraine, Norway, Iceland, and other countries that are members of the Media Freedom Coalition. The ambassadors' statement emphasized that Amaglobeli's sentence was "disproportionate and politicized." They also noted that her lengthy pretrial detention had negatively impacted her health, particularly her vision.
On the night of January 12, 2025, during a nighttime rally against the government, Mzia Amaglobeli was detained twice. The first time was while she was putting up stickers calling for a strike. She was released two hours later, but was detained again a few minutes later. The director of independent media outlets was accused of assaulting Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze: it was reported that Amaglobeli slapped him.
Initially, the journalist was charged under Part I of Article 353/1, which provides for assault on a police officer, a Special Penitentiary Service employee, or another official. Under this article, she faced a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years.
In August, the judge reclassified the charge, finding Amaglobeli guilty under Article 353 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to resisting, threatening, or using violence against a law enforcement officer or other public servant. Penalties under this article range from a fine and house arrest to imprisonment for two to six years.
On January 12, the journalist began a hunger strike, ending it on the 38th day after doctors warned that her health could worsen as a result of refusing food. In February, Amaglobeli was hospitalized, but was later transferred to a penitentiary facility, despite doctors' recommendations to remain at the Vivamed clinic.
