24 January 2025, 21:52
European journalists speak out in support of Mziya Amaglobeli
European organizations of journalists have issued an appeal to the authorities of Georgia calling them on to stop persecuting Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Netgazeti” and “Batumelebi”online publications, and to investigate the brutal treatment to which she had been subjected.
On January 20, Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Netgazeti”and “Batumelebi” online publications, went on a hunger strike in protest against her arrest. Every day, in Georgia, activists hold rallies in support of Mziya Amaglobeli.
The “International Press Institute” (IPI), the “European Press and Media Freedom Centre” (ECPMF), the “European Federation of Journalists” (EFJ), the “Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa” (OBCT), the “Free Press Unlimited” (FPU), the “Justice for Journalists Foundation” (JFJ), and other international organisations have appealed to the authorities of Georgia.
“We urge the Georgian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mziya Amaglobeli and put an end to this unprecedented crackdown on the media,” reads a statement posted on the website of Media Freedom Rapid Response, a pan-European mechanism that responds to violations of the press and media freedom in EU member states, candidate countries, and Ukraine.
Tamta Mikeladze, the director of the “Centre for Social Justice” NGO, noted that two journalists are currently on hunger strike in prison. In addition to Mziya Amaglobeli, “their number includes Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadygov, who has been on hunger strike for over 120 days.”
In Tbilisi, a court has dismissed the Afghan Sadygov’s appeal against the decision to extradite him to Azerbaijan. Since September 20, 2024, the Azerbaijani journalist has been on a hunger strike in a Georgian SIZO (pre-trial prison) in protest against his arrest and denial of political asylum.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 23, 2025 at 04:25 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Galina Gotua Source: СK correspondent
Комментирование через Кавказский узел