The Georgian Young Lawyers Association has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobeli.
The NGO says the complaint submitted to the European Court of Human Rights alleges that the fundamental rights of the European Convention on Human Rights have been violated in relation to Mzia Amaglobeli, such as the right to liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, and the right to respect for private and family life.
“Today, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobeli, who is in illegal detention.
The complaint submitted to the European Court of Human Rights substantiates that the fundamental rights of the European Convention on Human Rights, such as the right to liberty and security (Article 5 of the Convention), the right to a fair trial (Article 6 of the Convention), the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8 of the Convention), freedom of expression (Article 10 of the Convention), Article 13 of the Convention in conjunction with Articles 8 and 10 (right to an effective remedy), the limitation on use of restrictions on rights (Article 18 of the Convention), were violated against Mzia Amaglobeli”, the organization says.
As GYLA explains, the complaint sent to the European Court of Human Rights only includes a part of the violations committed against Mzia Amaglobeli.
“Considering that the consideration of the case on some of the violations has not yet been completed, the complaint sent today does not include the aforementioned violations and a dispute over them in the Strasbourg Court, depending on the results, will be possible after the completion of the consideration of the case at the national level,” reads the information.
Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been detained since January 12, 2025, following an altercation with a police officer during an anti-government protest in Batumi. Charged with assaulting a police officer—a crime carrying a potential seven-year prison sentence—her arrest has been widely criticized as politically motivated and an attack on press freedom.
Amaglobeli initiated a hunger strike upon her arrest, which lasted 38 days, leading to severe health deterioration and hospitalization. Despite appeals from human rights organizations and media professionals, Georgian courts have upheld her pre-trial detention.
Related story: Salome Zurabishvili: 100 days since journalist Mzia Amaglobeli’s unjust arrest – A symbol of press freedom
