The Clooney Foundation for Justice announced on March 18 that TrialWatch, which provides free legal aid in support of free speech around the world, intends to monitor the trial of Mzia Amaglobeli, independent Georgian journalist and director of the Netgazeti/Batumelebi publication.
Amaghlobeli, who remains in custody, is charged under Article 353 Prima of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to assaulting a police officer. She was accused of allegedly attacking Irakli Dgebuadze, the director of Batumi’s police division, on January 12. However, she was initially detained on administrative charges for posting a poster calling for a nationwide strike.
There have also been reports that Amaglobeli was threatened and spat on by the chief of the city police following her arrest. To protest her arrest and the treatment of other protesters in Georgia, Amaglobeli went on hunger strike for 38 days while in detention.
TrialWatch will produce a Fairness Report grading the case against international and regional fair trial standards after the end of Amaglobeli’s trial.
About the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch Initiative
TrialWatch provides free legal aid to journalists who are unfairly imprisoned to secure their release and uphold freedom of speech.
About the Clooney Foundation for Justice
CFJ wages justice by providing free legal aid in defense of free speech and women’s rights in over 40 countries. Its work has led to dozens of journalists being set free and thousands of women receiving free legal support to defend their rights.
