Day: May 17, 2025
Lena Schilling, a member of the European Parliament from Austria (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance), who came to Georgia to attend the trial of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, director of Batumelebi/Netgazeti, sharply criticized the proceeding calling it “political persecution” and said the trial is a test for Georgia’s European future.
“What I witnessed in court today is not the rule of law. Mzia Amaghlobeli was silenced. Ridiculous claims were presented as evidence — this is political persecution, not a fair trial,” Schilling said after attending the court proceedings in Batumi on May 16, in comments shared with Civil.ge.
Schilling described the trial as a “test of Georgia’s commitment to European values.”
“I sincerely hope that Georgia will return to its European path and become a member of the EU,” she said. “To achieve this, we must especially support democratic civil society. Authoritarian regimes know that an active civil society is their greatest enemy. Their fight is therefore our fight.”
Amaghlobeli, who was arrested on January 12 for slapping Batumi Police Division head Irakli Dgebuadze, is charged under Article 353 Prima of Georgia’s criminal code, which pertains to assaults on law enforcement officers. If convicted, she faces a sentence of four to seven years in prison. The hearing on May 16 was held in Batumi City Court, with both Schilling and German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer in attendance. Givi Chkhartishvili, a medical expert who examined Dgebuadze following the incident, testified as a witness.
“Mzia is not an isolated case — her story reflects the global pattern of brave female journalists being silenced,” Schilling said. “She is the voice of an entire movement. Her courage inspires all of Georgia — and gives hope to many young women.”
Schilling said she was “deeply moved” by Amaghlobeli’s resilience and praised her family and supporters for their continued determination.
Also Read:
- 16/05/2025 – MEP Attends Mzia Amaghlobeli Court Hearing in Batumi, Says “Europe is Watching”
- 16/04/2025 – GYLA Slams “Ineffective” Probe into Alleged Police Abuse of Mzia Amaghlobeli
- 17/03/2025 – Social Justice Center Submits Amicus Curiae Brief on Amaghlobeli Case to Batumi City Court
- 20/01/2025 – GYLA: Amaghlobeli Criminal Prosecution a Political Repression
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, co-chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, called on Syria’s new leadership to withdraw its recognition of Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In a post on X, Wilson said he had urged Syrian Foreign Minister Shibani in February to reverse the Assad regime’s “wrongful decision” and recognize the two territories as part of Georgia. “This simple step would show deep strength and commitment to Syria’s new path,” Wilson wrote.
His comments follow a joint appeal issued by Georgia’s four main opposition parties on January 31 to the newly installed Syrian government, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The letter, signed by the the Coalition for Change, UNM-Unity, Strong Georgia, and Gakharia – For Georgia called on Damascus to revoke Syria’s 2018 recognition of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia as independent states.
The opposition parties welcomed what they described as the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship and Syria’s transition to a new government. They urged al-Sharaa to break with the foreign policy of Assad’s Kremlin-backed regime and realign Syria with the international consensus on Georgia’s territorial integrity.
Only a handful of Russian-allied states—including Syria under Assad— have recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia since Russia invaded and occupied the regions in the aftermath of the 2008 war with Georgia.
The call by Republican Congressman comes amid improved relations between the U.S. and Syria. On May 14, 2025, President Trump met with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Riyadh. Trump announced that the U.S. would lift sanctions against Syria.
Also Read:
- 25/08/2022 – Syrian Foreign Minister Visiting Abkhazia