Mzie Amaglobeli denied parole

Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of the publications Batumelebi and Netgazeti, does not repent of slapping a police officer, the parole board concluded, justifying the denial of her request for release.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has already filed three complaints with the European Court of Human Rights in connection with the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of the publications Netgazeti and Batumelebi. One complaint concerns violations during the application of a preventive measure, the second concerns the journalist's administrative detention.

The parole board denied early release to Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, JamNews reports.

The decision was based on the fact that she "does not repent of her actions." However, the correctional facility's assessment noted that Mzia lacks "aggressive tendencies."

As a reminder, on the night of January 12, 2025, 10 people were detained in Batumi, including Mzia Amaglobeli. Amaglobeli was detained for posting a poster calling for a general strike on a wall. When Amaglobeli was released, she found herself in a stampede involving the city's police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze. According to a silent video published by the Imedi TV channel, Amaglobeli, surrounded and held by police, said something to Dgebuadze, who responded and turned away. Amaglobeli sharply rebuked him and slapped him. After this, the journalist was detained again, according to the Caucasian Knot report "The Mzia Amaglobeli Case: Circumstances of the Arrest and the Campaign in Defense of the Journalist."

On January 11, female politicians protested outside the Rustavi prison to demand the release of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of the publications Netgazeti and Batumelebi. They unfurled banners reading, "Mzia Amaglobeli, a year in prison!", "Freedom for prisoners of conscience!", and others.

Amaglobeli's case has also received international attention. The Vice President of the European Parliament called on Georgian Dream to release the journalist, who is losing her sight in prison. Pina Picerno proposed sending Amaglobeli abroad for treatment so that she could receive specialized medical care and preserve her vision.

In October 2025, the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly published a resolution demanding the release of Mzia Amaglobeli.

On January 12, the anniversary of the journalist's arrest, diplomatic missions from 23 countries and the European Union called the sentence politically motivated. Amaglobeli and called for her release.

Since the journalist's arrest, demands for her release and an investigation into the actions of the Batumi police leadership have also been heard at the mass protests that have taken place daily in Georgia since November 2024.

In October 2025, Mzia Amaglobeli received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which is the highest award of the European Union for human rights activities.