"I cannot provide a legal assessment. However, I can give a general evaluation of the offense that was committed. No one should think they can so easily raise a hand against the state or a state representative. This required a response from the state—the main issue is that we see no sign of remorse," said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze regarding the case of Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder of "Batumelebi" and "Netgazeti," who has been on a hunger strike for 28 days.

According to Kobakhidze, neither Mzia Amaghlobeli nor her colleagues have expressed any remorse regarding the incident. On the contrary, he claims that "they encourage such actions."

"As for a meeting with Mzia Amaghlobeli’s colleagues, I was expecting that the initiative they proposed would be accompanied by a sense of remorse, but there was none at all! They want to discuss legal matters. These issues cannot be settled with me—I am neither a prosecutor nor a judge. Legal matters should be resolved in court and by the prosecution. If someone wants to express remorse, of course, that would be significant and a sign of respect toward the state. Only after that could we start discussing any topic or meetings. But when there is no remorse, and instead, they attempt to justify such offenses, that is entirely unacceptable, and we cannot be tolerant of it," Kobakhidze stated.

Kobakhidze also commented on the international response to Mzia Amaghlobeli’s case.

He stated that the claim that Amaghlobeli is imprisoned for freedom of expression is a "shameful lie."

"You heard an international statement yesterday, which suggested that someone is in prison for exercising free speech. Just look at how shamelessly they spread such lies—this was a lie told at the highest levels of the European Union. You should be the ones to evaluate this, and it is also important to assess the fact that someone dared to slap a police chief in the face. Everyone should have a healthy reaction to this, rather than the kind of response we saw yesterday from high-ranking EU officials, who shamelessly lied by claiming that a journalist is in prison for expressing a free opinion. This is a shameful lie, and we will not react to such disgraceful falsehoods," said Kobakhidze.

For context, Mzia Amaghlobeli was arrested for slapping Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze. She is accused of assaulting a police officer, a charge that carries a prison sentence of four to seven years.

Amaghlobeli has been on a hunger strike since her arrest. Today marks the 28th day of her hunger strike, and she is currently being held at the "Vivamedi" clinic.