Georgian journalist charged with assault amid ongoing protests

Prominent Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli was officially charged with assaulting a police officer on Monday after being arrested over the weekend.

Amaglobeli, founder and director of respected Georgian media outlets ‘Batumelebi’ and ‘Netgazeti,’ is accused by Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office of assaulting Irakli Dgebuadze, the head of the city of Batumi’s police force.

Charges stem from an incident in Batumi, where Amaglobeli was arrested twice on the same day.

Amaglobeli’s first arrest occurred after police accused her of posting a sticker calling for a nationwide strike at the administrative building. She was briefly released but later re-arrested on criminal charges of assaulting a police officer – which could result in between four and seven years imprisonment.

Her detention sparked protests, with journalists in Tbilisi and Batumi demanding her immediate release. Amaglobeli herself alleged mistreatment by police, claiming officers handler her roughly upon her initial release, which lead to an accidental confrontation with the police chief.

Supporters, colleagues and friends of Amaglobeli gathered in both Tblisi and Batumi overnight to demand her freedom.

Widespread protests have been ongoing in Georgia for 47 days. They began after the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the temporary suspension of negotiations with the European Union.

Citizens across Georgia continue to call for new parliamentary elections and the release of prisoners arrested during the protests.