Georgia Jails Journalist Two Years Amid Press Freedom Concerns

Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of two independent media outlets, was sentenced to two years in prison after slapping a senior police officer during an anti-government protest in Batumi. While initially charged with assault, the court downgraded the charge to a lesser offense, but the case has nonetheless sparked widespread condemnation from rights groups and international diplomats, who see it as emblematic of a crackdown on press freedom and democratic backsliding in Georgia. The sentencing has fueled protests and calls for resistance among activists and journalists, highlighting concerns about escalating intimidation of dissenting voices under the ruling Georgian Dream party. Amaghlobeli and her supporters argue the charges and trial were politically motivated and unfair, contrasting her treatment with the lack of prosecution for violent crackdowns on protesters. The case has drawn criticism from Western diplomatic missions and organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists, underscoring broader fears about the erosion of democratic norms in the country.