Giorgi Gvarakidze
Prosecutor General
Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia
24 Vakhtang Gorgasali Street
Tbilisi, Georgia

Dear Prosecutor General,
I am writing to express my deep concern for detained journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, whose health has significantly deteriorated since her arrest in January 2025. She suffers from a degenerative eye condition, and recent medical examinations show a rapid decline in her vision. Before her detention, she had already lost almost all sight in her left eye and had only 30% vision in her right, which could be corrected up to 90% with adequate treatment. However, a medical examination in February showed her right eye had dropped to just 10% functionality, correctable to only 40%. According to the same medical report, Mzia Amaghlobeli has been diagnosed with astigmatism and keratoconus in the left eye – a serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.

Despite multiple appeals based on medical diagnosis indicating urgent need for her treatment since 4 February 2025, Mzia Amaghlobeli has not been transferred to specialist clinic for diagnosis or care. She remains in detention without access to necessary treatment and under a serious risk of developing permanent blindness. While Mzia Amaghlobeli remains in detention since January 2025 following a swift remand hearing followed by unfair trial during which the court refused to admit much of her defence evidence or allow her defence cross-examine the prosecution’s key witness. Meanwhile, the authorities have failed to investigate in earnest serious and well-documented allegations against Bautmi police chief and other officers who subjected Mzia Amaghlobeli and other protesters to threats, verbal and physical abuse, ill-treatment and arbitrary arrest.

During her 14 July 2025 court hearing, Mzia Amaghlobeli addressed Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze: “ …while I was in detention, you barged into the room several times, swore at me, spat on me, and forbade the staff member from giving me water or to even let me go to the toilet… Under which article could this offense be classified?”

I urge you to ensure that Mzia Amaghlobeli is immediately transferred to a specialist medical facility for proper diagnosis and treatment of her eye condition, and to guarantee her right to health and protection from ill-treatment, including access to adequate medical care while in custody. I also call on you to ensure that all police officers involved in the alleged ill-treatment of Mzia Amaglobeli and other protestors, are immediately suspended in their duties until all allegations against them are promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigated, and necessary disciplinary, administrative or criminal proceedings undertaken as appropriate, in full compliance with international fair trial standards.

Authorities must respect Mzia Amaghlobeli’s and all Georgian protesters’ rights including their rights to a fair trial, to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and media freedom.