Media representatives have gathered near the government administration.

They are protesting the arrest of Mzia Amaglobeli, the director of Batumelebi, in Batumi last night. According to the journalists participating in the demonstration, the journalist has been illegally detained.

In addition, the journalists read a statement stating that the video footage showing the arrest of Mzia Amaglobeli “is not complete and has been edited, and does not reflect part of the important events that took place on the ground”.

The media representatives are demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli, and they are also calling on the Special Investigation Service to “urgently investigate the facts of ill-treatment and illegal detention” of Amaglobeli.

The statement also calls on international organizations and the diplomatic corps to “immediately take an interest” in the case of Mzia Amaglobeli.

“Representatives of independent media outlets, professional organizations and media rights organizations believe that the arrest of Mzia Amaglobeli and her criminal prosecution is a pre-planned criminal provocation”, reads their statement.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the director of Batumelebi, Mzia Amaglobeli, was arrested under Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to assault on a police officer.

Mzia Amaglobeli was administratively detained yesterday during a rally in Batumi near the main police department, released after about two hours, and arrested again a few minutes after the release.