GYLA Calls for Justice for Mzia Amaglobeli Amid Ongoing Hunger Strike
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has issued a statement regarding Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, who has been on a hunger strike for the 16th consecutive day. GYLA is calling on the Ministry of Justice to immediately make a public statement and provide regular updates on Amaglobeli's health condition during her hunger strike. The organization has also stressed that the prison administration must ensure comprehensive and effective monitoring of her health, in line with a special protocol for such cases.
According to GYLA, Amaglobeli's imprisonment is illegal, and the organization has urged the Prosecutor's Office to terminate the case based on what they describe as "illegal accusations." They are calling for a change in her preventive measure before the court, arguing that Amaglobeli's actions do not involve any criminal offense. Amaglobeli, in a conversation with GYLA's chairman, stated that her hunger strike is not a demand for personal benefits but a protest against injustice. The statement from GYLA also emphasizes that the charges against her are politically motivated and that she is being punished for her work as a journalist, not for any legitimate legal violation.
In addition to addressing the legal situation, GYLA is also appealing to the Special Investigation Service to provide updates on the investigation into Amaglobeli's claims of degrading treatment. The organization is questioning why Irakli Dgebuadze, the Chief of Batumi Police, has not been suspended despite the allegations. GYLA's statement reiterates that the system is targeting Amaglobeli due to her journalistic activities, which are deemed politically inconvenient, rather than any criminal wrongdoing.
In response to the concerns raised, the Penitentiary Service issued a statement reassuring the public that Amaglobeli is receiving appropriate medical care. According to the statement, Amaglobeli is under constant supervision by medical staff, and all necessary medical services required by law are being provided. To ensure her safety, she has been placed in a cell equipped with video surveillance. The prison administration claims that Amaglobeli is receiving "adequate medical care" and that her health is being monitored regularly.
Amaglobeli's lawyer has stated that the journalist intends to continue her hunger strike as long as her body allows it, noting that she is consuming only water. Despite her ongoing hunger strike, her condition is described as stable. According to her lawyer, the initial medical assessments indicate that her condition is normal given the circumstances, although it is clear that her body will face significant challenges due to the extended hunger strike.
Public Defender Levan Ioseliani has also weighed in, confirming that Amaglobeli is still on hunger strike and has no intention of ending it. Ioseliani stated that when he met with Amaglobeli, she expressed her firm stance on continuing the protest. As of now, Ioseliani confirmed that she has not consumed food since January 12, and she is regularly visited by a doctor three times a day for monitoring. He added that Amaglobeli's condition is stable, though he stressed that the hunger strike has undoubtedly put a strain on her body. Since her detention, Amaglobeli has been visited seven times by the Public Defender's office to monitor her situation.
