International organizations defending press freedom, journalists and human rights are calling on the Georgian authorities to immediately release Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder and director of the online publications Batumelebi and Netgazeti, the organizations said in a joint statement.

“We call on the Georgian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Amaglobeli and end this unprecedented crackdown on the media. In addition, we demand a thorough investigation into the mistreatment of him,” the statement said.

The statement is signed by: International Press Institute (IPI), European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), Free Press Without Borders (FPU), Justice Foundation for Journalists (JFJ), IMS (International Media Support), Media Diversity Institute (MDI), Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans (MDI WB), PEN International, Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), Lee Hills Chair in Free Press Studies Katie Keel, Society of Journalists (Warsaw), IRMI - Institute for Regional Media and Information (Ukraine).

For information, the Batumi City Court has sentenced the founder of "Batumelebi" and "Netgazeti", Mzia Amaglobeli, to imprisonment as a preventive measure. The decision was made by Judge Nino Irmashvili. Mzia Amaglobeli has been charged under Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which refers to assault on a police officer. Mzia Amaglobeli was initially administratively detained during a protest at the main police department in Batumi and released after about two hours. A few minutes after his release, he was arrested again at the police department. Mzia Amaglobeli has been on a hunger strike since his arrest.