[Read more about the case of Mzia Amaglobeli here join our campaign demanding Mzia Amaglobeli’s release here.]
Today, on May 26, Gazeti Batumelebi, one of Georgia’s most trusted news organizations and a member of the IPI global network, is celebrating its 24th anniversary.
For over two decades, Gazeti Batumelebi has reported on human rights violations and official corruption, serving its readers with impartial, high-quality journalism. It has endured four political regimes in Georgia’s post-independence era, despite its journalists and editors being attacked, threatened, blackmailed, and detained by authorities.
In the past year, the crisis facing Georgia’s media freedom and democracy has come to a head with the future survival of journalism and media such as Gazeti Batumelebi at great risk.
Gazeti Batumelebi marks its 24th year while its founder and director, Mzia Amaglobeli, remains behind bars. Amaglobeli faces a potential prison sentence of four to seven years on disproportionate charges of assaulting a police officer. Arrested in early January, Amaglobeli has now been unjustly held in pre-trial detention for 135 days.
For many in Georgia and beyond, Amaglobeli has become a symbol of resilience and unrelenting fight for press freedom.
On this day, we express our full solidarity with Gazeti Batumelebi and renew our call for the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli.
We also reiterate our full support for all journalists in Georgia who, despite mounting pressure, refuse to be silenced.