A court hearing for Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” online newspapers, was held at Batumi City Court, reviewing the preventive measure for Amaghlobeli. Judge Nino Sakhelashvili ruled to keep the defendant in custody.

The prosecution stated that “there was a risk of Mzia Amaghlobeli committing repeat offences.”

The decision was met with uproar in the courtroom. Amaghlobeli, who attended the court session, addressed the judge.

“To tell you the truth, this is all a formality. From session to session, processes are developing in the country such that rather than discussing my imprisonment, they are arresting students daily with exactly the same motive for which I am in this prison – they even arrested a single mother.

My solidarity is with prisoners of conscience. I am awaiting punishment and probably expecting more than what they sentenced Mate Devidze to. Not because I deserve it, but because you are under such political pressure and I don’t think you wanted to become judges to serve the regime and the regoligarch’s government. Act as your conscience tells you,” Amaghlobeli stated.

Additionally, according to Amaghlobeli’s lawyer, Mzia Mtsariashvili, her client has serious vision problems. The lawyer says she had this problem before her arrest, and it has worsened in prison.

“In one eye, she practically has no vision – 0.4%, while in the other eye, only glasses can increase vision to 40%. They have all the documentation for this, including the Public Defender’s conclusion, but if they don’t want to, they won’t look at it. Despite this, the judge still kept her in custody,” Mzia Amaghlobeli’s lawyer stated.

The case prosecutor, Tornike Gogeshvili, said, “The health condition is not a ground for release, as appropriate medical services are available to Mzia Amaghlobeli.”

The court proceedings took place against the backdrop of protests. Representatives of the diplomatic corps also attended today’s hearing.