Prepared by Messenger Staff
Lawyers Call on Kutaisi Court to Dismiss Case Against Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, Citing Falsified Evidence
Lawyers representing journalist and civic activist Mzia Amaglobeli are urging the Kutaisi Court of Appeal to dismiss an administrative offense case against her, claiming that police falsified evidence leading to her detention.
According to her legal team and human rights advocates, Amaglobeli is being targeted for her journalistic work and activism. They argue that her arrest on January 11, 2025, during a protest outside the Adjara Police Department, was unlawful. Initially detained for placing a protest sticker on a wall, Amaglobeli was later accused of verbally insulting police, an allegation the defense claims was fabricated to justify the arrest.
"The police did not have the authority to detain her for placing a sticker," the lawyers said. "The arrest report was altered to accuse her under Article 173, and the court relied on misleading evidence to uphold the charge."
The Batumi City Court upheld the police version in a March 18 ruling, relying primarily on video footage submitted by law enforcement and the testimony of Deputy Chief of Batumi Police G. Vanadze. However, Amaglobeli's defense insists the footage was recorded hours after her detention and pertains to another individual's arrest.
"We have submitted evidence to the Kutaisi Court of Appeal proving the video footage does not show Amaglobeli at the time of her arrest and that the police witness provided false testimony," the legal team stated.
The defense is calling on the court to terminate the case and overturn the Batumi City Court's decision. They also appealed to Georgia's Prosecutor General to launch a criminal investigation against police officials involved in the case, citing possible violations under Articles 332 (abuse of authority), 369 (falsifying evidence), and 370 (false testimony) of the Criminal Code.
Amaglobeli remains in detention, with her lawyers asserting that the ongoing legal process is based entirely on fabricated grounds.
Special Investigation Service to Merge with Prosecutor's Office Amid Criticism
Georgia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) is set to be merged with the Prosecutor's Office, the agency confirmed to the media, without sharing further information. Details about the integration will be outlined in a legislative draft to be presented to the ruling party-dominated parliament.
Created in 2022 as an autonomous investigative unit under the EU-Georgia Association Agenda from 2017 to 2020, the SIS was meant to conduct independent and prompt investigations into serious crimes and misconduct by officials. Despite this, the agency is widely criticized for its lack of independence and failure to act, with no police officers held accountable for abuses against protesters over the past year.
Nona Kurdovanidze, head of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, described the move as troubling. She noted that the SIS had already struggled to perform its duties effectively and said this decision indicates a lack of interest in preserving even a minimally independent investigative structure.
In April, the UK imposed sanctions on SIS chief Karlo (Koka) Katsitadze, accusing him of neglecting to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officials responsible for suppressing citizens, opposition members, journalists, and activists since the enactment of the Foreign Agents Law in May 2024.
