Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, expressed deep concern over the state of democracy and media freedom in Georgia during her address to the European Parliament, where the case of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli was a key topic.
“The EU remains ready to take measures to hold human rights violators in Georgia accountable,” Zaharieva stated, highlighting a growing pattern of harassment, intimidation, and politically motivated persecution against journalists, civil activists, and opposition figures.
“These tactics are clearly designed to silence dissenting voices and restrict democratic space,” she said, adding that young protesters are being handed disproportionate sentences, and independent media outlets are being dragged into court for speaking the truth.
Zaharieva described Mzia Amaghlobeli’s case as symbolic of the broader suppression of free expression in Georgia—something she called “unacceptable for a country aspiring to EU membership.” She called for Amaghlobeli’s immediate release and reaffirmed the EU’s support for Georgia’s independent media.
“Georgia’s European path remains open, but the authorities must choose to follow it,” she stressed. “This is not the behavior the EU—or more importantly, the people of Georgia—expect from a government seeking closer ties with Europe.”
