The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has officially begun consideration of the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, journalist and founder of Batumelebi, announced Nona Kurdovanidze, Chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Amaglobeli’s legal representative.
Speaking at a press conference, Kurdovanidze stated that if Amaglobeli’s rights are not upheld at the national level, international legal mechanisms will be pursued in full.
“We received significant news yesterday. The ECHR has informed us that it has started examining Mzia Amaglobeli’s case. The letter notes that the case may be classified as high-profile due to its importance. Remarkably, the Court moved forward with the case just two months after we submitted it,” she said.
Kurdovanidze explained that the Court is now moving to the substantive phase, in which the alleged violations outlined in the complaint will be addressed. These include breaches of key rights protected under the European Convention on Human Rights—namely, the right to liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of expression.
Communication between the Strasbourg Court and the Georgian government has already begun regarding these alleged violations.
“Georgia has been given time to respond to the Court’s specific inquiries related to the case. This is a crucial stage in the process. We reiterate that Mzia Amaglobeli remains in unlawful detention, and this case directly challenges the legitimacy of that detention,” Kurdovanidze said.
Journalist and founder of Batumelebi, Mzia Amaglobeli, was arrested in Batumi on the night of January 11–12, 2025. Earlier that day, she had been briefly detained for placing a protest sticker at the Adjara Police Department but was released. Later that night, she was arrested again and charged under Article 353 of Georgia’s Criminal Code for allegedly slapping Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze during a confrontation.
Her supporters claim the act was symbolic and a reaction to verbal abuse and provocation by the police chief. Amaglobeli’s arrest sparked widespread criticism from local and international organizations, who viewed it as politically motivated and a threat to press freedom. She remains in pre-trial detention, and her case has since been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights.
