Amnesty International expressed significant concern and called for an immediate, transparent investigation into the conviction of Mzia Amaglobeli, a respected Georgian journalist sentenced to a two-year imprisonment after what has been criticized as an unfair trial filled with irregularities and alleged mistreatment. Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty, emphasized the necessity of a fair trial and the urgent need to investigate the abuses reportedly suffered by Amaglobeli to ensure justice is served.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) joined Amnesty in condemning the trial, labeling the sentencing as "disproportionate and politicized." Amaglobeli, a renowned journalist and founder of Gazeti Batumelebi and Netzgazeti, has been in pretrial detention for over 200 days following her January arrest under charges linked to Article 353, paragraph 1 of the Georgian Criminal Code. This law, which deals with attacks on law enforcement officials, has been criticized by Transparency International for its vagueness and potential for misuse by authorities.

The incident leading to Amaglobeli’s arrest involved a confrontation where she reportedly slapped a police chief after facing sexualized threats and insults. Her detention, marked by allegations of not being properly informed of the reasons as required by law, and the pretrial conditions set without substantial evidence from the prosecution, highlights concerns over legal fairness and human rights observance in Georgia.

The case against Amaglobeli is also seen as an attempt to suppress her efforts to ensure transparency in her journalistic work, particularly related to reporting on corruption. This has raised alarms about the potential weaponization of legal systems against journalists in the region.

Furthermore, Amaglobeli's health has reportedly deteriorated significantly while in custody, with credible sources indicating that she has been denied necessary medical treatment. This situation underscores the broader issue of the treatment of activists and journalists in Georgia, who are increasingly viewed not as advocates for democracy and transparency but as adversaries of the state.

International organizations and human rights advocates continue to watch closely, calling on Georgian authorities to uphold justice and adhere to international standards of legal rights and human dignity. The global community awaits a response that could either reinforce or challenge Georgia's commitment to human rights and the rule of law.