Legal incident

Founder of Batumelebi/Netgazeti outlets, Mzia Amaglobeli, sentenced to 2 years in prison

Judge Nino Sakhelashvili of the Batumi City Court reclassified the charges against the founder of the online publications Batumelebi and Netgazeti, journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, and sentenced her to two years in prison.

Mzia Amaglobeli was charged with assaulting a police officer after slapping the Chief of Batumi Police, and was charged under Article 353 Prima of the Criminal Code, which envisions 4 to 7 years in prison. On the day of the verdict, the judge reclassified the charges to Article 353 Part One of the Criminal Code. The article in question refers to resisting a police officer, a special penitentiary service employee or another government official with the aim of obstructing the maintenance of public order, interrupting or changing his activities. The article provides for a fine or house arrest for a term of up to two years or imprisonment for a term of 2 to 6 years.

Mzia Amaglobeli’s attorneys plan to appeal the case after the verdict is handed down.

Mzia Amaglobeli was first arrested on January 11 of this year under administrative law, and a few hours later, on January 12, under criminal law.

“Cartu Bank” is suing “TV Pirveli” in court

“Cartu Bank,” 35% of which is owned by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili’s son, Uta Ivanishvili, is suing “TV Pirveli” for defamation. The plaintiff demands that the channel not refer to the bank as “Ivanishvili’s” or “the oligarch’s” bank.

According to Nodari Meladze, head of TV Pirveli’s news department, the report that prompted the lawsuit was aired in a news broadcast and was based on a resolution of the European People’s Party (EPP), which called for Cartu Bank to be disconnected from the international payment system SWIFT.

“They are demanding that this report not be posted on online platforms. Apparently, this issue is problematic for the bank, and they are seeking a court ban on media use of terms like ‘Ivanishvili’s bank’ or ‘oligarch’s bank,’” Meladze told Netgazeti. He also noted that Cartu Bank is seeking only a denial of the facts presented in the report, not monetary compensation.

According to the Media Advocacy Coalition, this lawsuit represents another case of Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP): “This case is another clear example of the targeted repressive policy toward the media conducted by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s ‘Georgian Dream,’” the organization said in a statement.

The Revenue Service has imposed a lien on the bank accounts of Batumelebi

On July 21, 2025, it was announced that Georgia’s Revenue Service had frozen the bank accounts of the media outlet Batumelebi. According to the organization, while the official reason given was debt, they believe the true intention is to shut down the media outlet.

According to media reports, the Revenue Service gave Batumelebi a five-day deadline to pay off the debt, warning that if they failed to do so, their accounts would be frozen, followed by seizure of property. The National Enforcement Bureau would then step in to sell the organization’s assets — including their office and editorial equipment.

Batumelebi reports that their current debt to the state includes a principal amount of 47,000 GEL, a penalty interest of 126,000 GEL, and a fine of 109,000 GEL. The outlet had acknowledged the debt and had been making monthly payments toward it. After receiving the threat of asset seizure, Batumelebi officially requested a payment schedule from the Revenue Service — an option allowed under the Tax Code — but their request was denied. On July 17, their accounts were frozen.

Batumelebi considers this action to be yet another form of pressure against the outlet and a step toward its closure. For over six months now, the founder and media manager of the outlet, Mzia Amaghlobeli, has been in detention. She is facing 4 to 7 years in prison for allegedly assaulting a police officer — the charge stems from an incident where she reportedly slapped the head of Batumi’s police. Her trial is nearing its end, with the final hearing — during which Judge Nino Galustashvili will announce the verdict — scheduled for August 1.

“The account freeze and the other measures planned in the coming week are clearly aimed at breaking Mzia Amaghlobeli — and ultimately, at dismantling the independent media organization she founded,” Batumelebi said in a statement. “One clear example confirms this: according to official data from May 21, 2025, the TV company Imedi owes 17 million GEL to the state, while Rustavi 2 owes 25 million GEL. Yet neither has faced such enforcement actions.”

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has also labeled this incident as pressure on the media. The Charter has urged the Revenue Service to lift the account freeze and offer Batumelebi a repayment plan. Another group, the Coalition for Media Advocacy, also condemned the move, calling it part of a broader campaign by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, against independent journalism and media.

International human rights organization Amnesty International also responded, stating:
“The independent Georgian outlet Batumelebi had its accounts frozen after allegations of police violence emerged against its founder, Mzia Amaghlobeli, who is currently unlawfully detained and facing a flawed trial. Amnesty calls for a full investigation into all allegations of police abuse.”

Update (July 22):
Following widespread public outcry — both locally and from international media organizations — the Revenue Service offered Batumelebi a payment plan and agreed to lift the account freeze. That same day, thanks to a major campaign by readers and supporters, Batumelebi managed to raise funds to cover the principal part of their debt.

The Revenue Service has placed a lien on the accounts of the publication ‘Batumelebi’

On July 21, 2025, it became known that the Revenue Service had placed a lien on the accounts of the publication Batumelebi. According to the organization, the official reason is debt, but the real reason is the intention to shut down the media organization.

According to media reports, the agency gave them a five-day deadline to pay the debt; otherwise, the accounts would be subjected to a lien, after which the property would be seized and the National Bureau of Enforcement would begin the enforcement process — selling the organization’s assets, including its office and editorial technical equipment.

According to the publication, at this stage their debt to the budget — the principal amount — is 47,000 GEL, with interest adding 126,000 GEL and a fine of 109,000 GEL. Batumelebi had acknowledged its debt to the state and had been making monthly payments to cover it. After the threat of a lien, Batumelebi officially contacted the Revenue Service and requested a payment schedule (the Tax Code allows debt to be paid in installments), but they were refused. On July 17, Batumelebi’s accounts were subjected to a lien.

The publication perceived this action as another attempt to pressure them and as an effort to shut down the media outlet. For more than six months, the founder and media manager, Mazia Amaglobeli, has been in detention. She is accused of assaulting a police officer for slapping the chief of Batumi police and faces 4 to 7 years in prison. Her trial is nearing its conclusion, with the final session — where Judge Nino Galustashvili will announce the verdict — scheduled for August 1.

“The lien and all other operations planned in the past week are aimed at breaking Mazia Amaglobeli and, in the long term, destroying the media organization she founded. A simple confirmation of this is one example: according to official information from the Revenue Service on May 21, 2025, TV company Imedi owes 17 million GEL to the budget. Rustavi 2 owes 25 million GEL to the budget,” the organization stated.

The “Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics” also assessed the incident as pressure on the media. The charter urges the Revenue Service to lift the lien on the publication’s accounts and to provide a schedule for debt repayment. Batumelebi’s case is part of a systemic campaign carried out by the Georgian Dream party against independent journalism and media, according to a statement by another organization, the “Media Advocacy Coalition.”

The international human rights organization Amnesty International also commented on the situation: “The accounts of the independent Georgian publication Batumelebi were frozen after alleged cases of police violence against its founder, Mazia Amaglobeli, who is currently unlawfully detained and facing a tainted trial. Amnesty calls for a full investigation of all allegations of police violence,” the statement read.

Update: On July 22, after the news received significant attention from both local and international media organizations, the Revenue Service offered Batumelebi a payment schedule and lifted the lien. On the same day, thanks to support from readers who launched a major campaign to help the publication, the principal amount of the debt was covered.

According to the Communications Commission, TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi, and Formula have violated the law

On July 3, 2025, the Communications Commission found TV companies “TV Pirveli”, “Mtavari Arkhi” and “Formula” to be violators of the law. The case concerns a complaint by “Georgian Dream” against the television stations. The party appealed to the commission on June 1 and complained about terms such as: “illegitimate parliament”, “oligarch’s regime”, “regime prisoners”, “illegitimate government”, “clan’s court” and others. The complaints submitted by “Georgian Dream” are based on amendments to Georgia’s Law on Broadcasting. These amendments were approved by parliament on April 1, as a result of which the Communications Commission’s powers were expanded.

The Media Advocacy Coalition called on the Communications Commission to be independent and a defender of free speech.

“The Commission should take into account that the public interest in critical assessment of political forces is higher. The media should have the right to give appropriate characterization and assessment to the processes taking place in the country. This is the essence of journalism” – the statement reads.

Radio Liberty journalist fined for allegedly “artificially blocking the road” while covering the protest rally

Radio Liberty journalist Giorgi Diasamidze was accused and fined for allegedly blocking the road while covering the February 17, 2025 rally. He was notified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on February 21. The agency explained that he was fined 5,000 GEL for “artificially blocking the road” near the parliament. The journalist appealed the fine, on the basis of which he was informed that the fine had been lifted.

Anti-Corruption Bureau Requests Grant Information from Media Development Fund (MDF)

On June 19, 2025, the Media Development Fund (MDF) received a court order informing them that the Anti-Corruption Bureau had launched an investigation into the organization’s activities. The Bureau is demanding a large amount of information, including the personal data of beneficiaries and partner organizations.

Documents show that one of the reasons for the court order was the publication of joint statements by non-governmental organizations about the state of media freedom and pressure on journalists. MDF has appealed the decision.

MDF is a member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN). EFCSN issued a public statement expressing solidarity with fact-checking platforms in Georgia. The statement notes that Myth Detector (a project by MDF) operates with high standards of transparency and journalistic methodology.

In addition to MDF, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has opened proceedings against three other member organizations of the Media Advocacy Coalition: Transparency International Georgia, Civil Society Foundation, and ISFED. In total, the court has already issued orders concerning seven civil society organizations.

The Media Advocacy Coalition views the adoption of the so-called “Russian laws” as a coordinated attack on civil society organizations. The Coalition is calling on all democratic forces in Georgia—including media outlets, civil society representatives, and individual citizens—to come together in defense of media freedom and civil society.

“Protecting media freedom and civil society is the foundation of democratic liberty,” the statement reads.

Media Access to Courts Restricted Starting Today

On June 26, 2025, “Georgian Dream” Parliament adopted amendments to the Organic Law on Common Courts in the third reading under an accelerated procedure. The new regulations, which came into force immediately upon publication, prohibit photo and video recording by the media during court hearings. As a result of the changes, recording is also restricted both inside court buildings and in the courtyards and hallways. These amendments fundamentally changed the rules for covering court proceedings. Today, June 30, according to information released by “Publika”, media representatives were not allowed into the Tbilisi City Court with cameras, and filming with phones was also restricted in the courtyard.

Today, the trial of 11 individuals detained on charges of group violence during pro-European protest rallies was taking place at the Tbilisi City Court. Media representatives appealed to the High Council of Justice for permission to record the hearing, but they did not receive a response. Lawyers also addressed the judge regarding the permission to record the hearing. However, according to the judge, since there was no decision presented to the court regarding permission for recording, the hearing would proceed without audio or video recording.

To date, the High Council of Justice has not established a procedure outlining how permission for media coverage of court hearings should be granted. It is known that such coverage is only possible with the Council’s permission, but the form and rules for granting this permission remain unclear. The absence of clear regulations creates a risk of arbitrary practices, which significantly restricts media freedom and the transparency of court proceedings.

TV host Vika Bukia fined 4,000 GEL for a comment made on social media

On June 18, 2025, Tbilisi City Court Judge Davit Tetraul fined “TV Pirveli” host Vika Bukia 4,000 GEL for a critical comment she posted on social media directed at a Georgian Dream MP.

Vika Bukia, along with five other journalists from critical media outlets, was summoned to Tbilisi City Court on June 12. All six were accused of insulting a member of the ruling Georgian Dream government. Out of the six, the court found four journalists guilty of an administrative offense and fined them. The hearings for the remaining two—Nanuka Zhorzholiani and Vakho Sanaia—were postponed, and no verdict has yet been issued in their cases.

In all six cases, the legal basis for the complaints was a newly enacted article of the Administrative Offenses Code—Article 173¹⁶(e). This article introduces liability for actions such as verbal insult, offensive language, degrading treatment, or other forms of offensive conduct directed at political officials, public servants, or equivalent positions, committed during or in connection with their official duties. Penalties include a fine ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 GEL or up to 45 days of detention.

According to the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, social media posts that do not contain threats posing a real risk and are directed at politicians—who are expected to have a high tolerance for criticism—are protected under freedom of expression. “Any court interpretation contradicting this standard would set a precedent for mass censorship,” the organization said in a statement.

Mzia Amaglobeili, Founder of “Netgazeti” and “Batumelebi,” Fined for the Second Time for Posting a Sticker

On June 18, 2025, Marina Fomaeva, a judge at Batumi City Court, found Mzia Amaglobeili—founder of the outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti—guilty of an administrative offense and fined her 1,000 GEL for posting a protest sticker.
The sticker in question read “Georgia Is Sworn In” and was placed by Amaglobeili on the wall of a police auxiliary building on January 11. Police officers removed the sticker immediately after it was posted.

Amaglobeili had already been fined once for the same sticker. On March 18, 2025, Judge Salikh Shainidze fined her 2,000 GEL for disobeying a lawful police order. Shortly after that, the Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a new administrative case against her for the same incident—this time for “defacing the appearance of a building.” The verdict in that case was delivered on June 18.

Mzia Amaglobeili was arrested twice during the night of January 11–12, 2025. She was first detained for posting the protest sticker but released a few hours later after signing a written statement. However, she was re-arrested shortly after on criminal charges for allegedly slapping Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze.

She remains in pretrial detention. Both local and international organizations consider her a political prisoner. Numerous procedural violations have been documented during her court proceedings.