On 19 June, the European Parliament adopted by a majority vote another critical resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” publications and “Netgazeti” Mzia Amaglobeli.
The resolution notes that Amaglobeli “faces four to seven years in prison for provoking an incident involving a police officer.”
“She is being penalised for exposing corruption and providing information on electoral fraud during the 2024 elections,” the MEPs said.
The European Parliament demands the release of “all political prisoners,” naming activist Mate Davidze, opposition leaders Zurab Japaridze, Nika Melia and Nika Gvaramia, and former President Mikheil Saakashvili among them.
In addition, the resolution names laws and amendments recently passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The European Parliament considers these legislative acts as “draconian legislation”, they “constitute a dangerous acceleration of democratic regression and are aimed at an attempt” by the Georgian Dream “to silence critical voices… as well as to persecute the political opposition”.
The European Parliament also demands “the immediate repeal of all repressive laws” and calls on the EU to “strengthen support for independent media and civil society in Georgia”.
The resolution labelled Salome Zurabishvili as president and the Georgian Dream government as a “self-proclaimed government”.
Mzia Amaglobeli has been in detention for 150 days. Several local and international human rights organisations, as well as the European Union and several member state governments, are demanding her release.