Prepared by Messenger Staff
Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli Denounces Political Pressure During Final Court Statement
Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, delivered a strong final statement at her court hearing, accusing politicians of attempting to discredit her and claiming the charges against her are politically motivated.
During her remarks, Amaglobeli addressed the court and directly criticized leading political figures, including Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling party.
"They say I am an agent and that the so-called 'global war party' is behind me. Apparently, I was even taught how to slap people during training sessions," Amaglobeli said. "I want to address Irakli Kobakhidze: the 'deep state' does not need to humiliate a police officer - they behave like this on their own."
Amaglobeli is facing criminal charges in a case she believes is part of a broader campaign to silence independent journalism and dissent. She stated that multiple politicians have worked to portray her as a criminal, spreading unfounded claims about her motives and actions.
"This judgment will not be my punishment alone, it will also be yours, prosecutors," she said. "It will be a professional punishment for everyone involved in this politically driven case."
She expressed frustration that the court denied her motions to question the politicians making these allegations. According to Amaglobeli, the accusations include claims that she was assigned to undermine the police and contribute to institutional collapse.
"These are not just random people saying this," she added. "They are in power and represent the ruling party."
Amaglobeli also cited a lack of accountability for attacks on activists and journalists. She criticized the government's failure to investigate incidents involving Guram Rogava, Maka Chikhladze, Aleksandre Keshelashvili, and Giorgi Shetsiruli.
"The dignity of the police was violated when you refused to investigate those attacks. That is the real humiliation," she said. "You have beaten young people and ignored these cases. That is why I cannot speak about the degrading actions committed by the police - it is too difficult."
Georgia Excluded from EU Enlargement Meeting After Halting Integration Process
The Georgian government's decision to pause its European Union integration efforts until 2028 has resulted in the country being left out of an upcoming EU enlargement meeting in Denmark.
In a written statement to InterpressNews, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Georgia will not be invited to the informal meeting of European Affairs Ministers from the 27 EU member states. The event, scheduled for September 1 and 2, will include representatives from Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkan countries, and Turkey.
Denmark, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, stated that it will apply the same approach previously used by Poland during its own presidency.
According to the Danish Foreign Ministry, "In November 2024, the Georgian government declared that it had decided to suspend the country's EU integration process until 2028. The EU has taken note of that. The Danish Presidency will follow the precedent set by the Polish Presidency and, as a general rule, not invite Georgia in the capacity as candidate country."
The meeting in Denmark will focus on various aspects of EU enlargement. As outlined on the European Council's website, the first working session will address the Copenhagen criteria, which are the foundational requirements for EU membership. This session will include participation from Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and Turkey. Georgia is not listed among the invited participants.
The second session will focus on strengthening the European Union's rule of law mechanisms, an issue that has gained increasing importance in EU accession discussions.
