MEP Nathalie Loiseau has issued a joint statement of 32 European politicians demanding the release of Batumelebi founder Mzia Amaglobeli.

The statement expresses concern over reports from the Georgian Young Lawyers Association and others that Mzia Amaglobeli is not receiving adequate medical care.

“We, Friends of Georgia, demand the immediate release of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, of fellow journalists as well as all of the many political prisoners who are currently jailed in the context of the terror crackdown against democracy, human rights and Georgia’s Euro- Atlantic future that has been ongoing for 69 days, with a noticeable recent escalation.

As Mzia Amaglobeli’s hunger strike and unjust detainment have entered into their fourth week with the risk of critical and irreversible life-threatening consequences, we are extremely concerned by statements by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association and others reporting that she has not received all necessary medical attention and is experiencing degrading treatment in captivity. We stress that any and all consequences on her health of are the full responsibility of the current Georgian authorities.

We are not fooled by the Georgian Dream leadership’s attempts to distort the circumstances that led to Mzia Amaglobeli’s arrest and tarnish her professional credibility by qualifying her as “foreign-funded”. This is yet another manoeuver intended to deflect attention from the massive mobilisation of the Georgian population around the Euro-Atlantic path enshrined not only in its constitution but in the will of its people, both of which were betrayed by the Russian-backed oligarchic Georgian Dream party’s illegal power grab.

The Georgian people will not be silenced, nor will its only remaining legitimate institution President Salomé Zourabishvili, its independent media and vibrant civil society organisations which so dearly need our support. We stand in solidarity with them.

We reiterate our pressing call that Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic path and democracy be urgently restored through the necessary steps, starting with the immediate release of all political prisoners, the abrogation of recent illegitimate laws restraining freedom of assembly and the organisation of new and independently monitored elections. We once again call on our countries and the European Union to respond appropriately by introducing or maintaining their sanctions on those responsible, among which Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Vakhtang Gomelauri and Sulkhan Tamazashvili,” the statement reads.

Today with a vast group of Friends of Georgia we issue à statement demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli and calling for decisive international action. pic.twitter.com/8ebWFOgF1S

— Nathalie Loiseau (@NathalieLoiseau) February 4, 2025