Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi, was arrested on January 11 for slapping a police officer, and on August 6, the court sentenced her to two years in prison. Human rights defenders and international organizations assess this punishment as disproportionate and politically motivated, aiming to weaken critical media and create a precedent to intimidate journalists.
Immediately following her arrest, a coordinated campaign of discreditation and disinformation against her began, involving politicians from the ruling Georgian Dream party, pro-government media, anti-Western/pro-Russian actors, and anonymous accounts. Initially, the attacks focused on her personality and journalistic work; after international organizations and the diplomatic corps became involved, the campaign expanded into a broader geopolitical narrative.
According to these narratives, Amaghlobeli acted deliberately under orders from the opposition and the West to provoke political unrest in Georgia and open a “second front.” The campaign accused her not only of committing a “crime” but also blamed Western ambassadors and organizations for interfering in Georgia’s sovereignty and applying double standards.
According to monitoring by the Myth Detector, during this period there were instances of personal discreditation as well as various disinformation messages, ranging from manipulation regarding her sexual orientation to distorted reporting of international statements. After Amaghlobeli’s arrest, the Myth Detector fact-checked three manipulative, one disinformative, one out-of-context, and one partially inaccurate reports about the journalist and her case.
Based on Myth Detector monitoring covering the period from February 10 to August 20, 2025, the following messages were identified:
- Amaghlobeli acted deliberately under orders from the opposition and the West, seeking to provoke political unrest and open a second front in Georgia;
- International organizations and diplomats interfere grossly in Georgia’s domestic affairs by attending Amaghlobeli’s trial and commenting on the case;
- Western double standards – ambassadors and international organizations encourage a crime that would be strictly punished in the West when it occurs in Georgia.
The actors spreading these messages included:
- Politicians from the Georgian Dream: Irakli Kobakhidze, Kakha Kaladze, Davit Matikashvili, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Irakli Kadagishvili, Mikheil Kavelashvili, Irakli Kirtskhalia, Tornike Cheishvili, Giorgi Sosiashvili, Irakli Kheladze;
- Pro-government media and journalists: Zviad Avaliani (POSTV), Anuki Gumberidze (TV Imedi), Irakli Chikhladze (TV Imedi);
- Pro-government experts and others: Ghia Abashidze, Ramaz Sakvarelidze, Gela Nikolaishvili (United Neutral Georgia), Guram Macharashvili (People’s Power), Davit Chikhelidze (Regional Development and Promotion Center), Goga Khaindrava (film director);
- Pro-Russian/anti-liberal actors: Nikoloz Mzhavanadze (Sezoni TV), Soso Shatberashvili (Left Alliance), Soso Manjavidze (Eri Media), Gela Zedelashvili (Asaval-Dasavali), Jaba Khubua (Asaval-Dasavali), Beso Barbakhadze (Georgia and the World);
- Facebook pages and accounts: “No to UNM – No to Dictatorship,” “Mikhun Hauzeni,” Daat Tsabadze, Kakha Danelia, Boris Gedevani.
Disinformation Campaign Against Mzia Amaghlobeli
Beyond the discreditation campaign, numerous manipulative and disinformative reports circulated regarding Amaghlobeli’s case. The campaign exaggerated the seriousness of her case and manipulated international commentary to mislead the public.
On August 2, after the verdicts for Mzia Amaghlobeli and Giorgi Akhobadze, a demonstrator arrested during the pro-European protests, were announced, a short 16-second clip of an interview with Giorgi Targamadze circulated on social media, presenting his comments about their cases in a distorted way. The video suggested that Targamadze supported Amaghlobeli’s release and advocated for a lighter sentence for Akhobadze, who was found innocent and released. In reality, Targamadze discussed possible reasons and the logic of the trial process, not his personal stance on the charges against them.
- Excerpt of Giorgi Targamadze’s Interview about Akhobadze and Amaghlobeli Is Being Disseminated Manipulatively
In July 2025, TV Imedi owner Irakli Rukhadze, Georgian Dream member Nino Tsilosani, and other social media accounts claimed that Amaghlobeli’s case had not been submitted to the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights. In fact, the Young Lawyers’ Association of Georgia had already submitted the case to the Strasbourg Court on April 28, and the case review began on June 26.
In July, TV Imedi reported that German journalist David Bendels was imprisoned for seven months for digitally altering the Foreign Minister’s photo. In reality, Bendels received a seven-month suspended sentence, which meant probationary supervision, not prison. TV Imedi used this story to create the impression that journalists in Western countries are treated more harshly than in Georgia.
In June, POSTV manipulatively covered a statement by German Ambassador Peter Fischer regarding Amaghlobeli. The program host, Nugzar Khavtasi, presented Fischer’s words as if he condoned violence against police in Georgia. In reality, Fischer spoke about the proportionality of Amaghlobeli’s imprisonment, believing her actions did not warrant such a long sentence.
In April, POSTV and Georgian Dream representatives manipulatively circulated a statement by the Czech Ambassador to Georgia, Petr Kubernát, creating the impression that the embassy referred exclusively to Mikheil Saakashvili’s governance as a “beacon of democracy.” In reality, the statement did not mention any specific political party or past government and addressed the impediment of Georgia’s broader democratic development process.
- Who Does the Czech Embassy Refer to as the “Beacon of Democracy,” and How Does POSTV Cover Their Statement?
In January, a video circulated on social media showing journalist Gela Mtivlishvili discussing Amaghlobeli’s arrest. The video was edited in such a way as to suggest Mtivlishvili denied that Amaghlobeli slapped a police officer. In reality, Mtivlishvili clarified that the slap occurred but was preceded by police abuse, while the government media showed only the slap, changing the context.
Discreditation of Mzia Amaghlobeli on Social Media
A significant part of the discreditation campaign involved personal insults and manipulation of the topic of sexual orientation. The campaign also involved anonymous Facebook accounts, which shared insulting descriptions and visuals about Amaghlobeli.
The anti-opposition Facebook page “No to UNM – No to Dictatorship” was involved in the campaign to discredit Amaghlobeli from the start, posting on February 11 a photo of Amaghlobeli and Batumelebi editor-in-chief Eter Turadze with the text, “Mzia Amaghlobeli and Eter Turadze, a lesbian Jehovah’s Witness couple.” To discredit Mzia Amaghlobeli and emphasize her orientation, the Facebook profile “Mikhun Hauzeni” posted a photo on August 4 with the description “Lover of women.” The same narrative appears in another photo collage from the same account, which features Mzia Amaghlobeli alongside photos of individuals detained during pro-European protest actions in 2023-24: Ucha Abashidze, Giorgi Akhobadze, Giorgi Mindadze, Lazare Grigoriadisi, and Onise Tchkhadze, with the following description: “Degenerates, pimps, lesbians, thieves, abusers, exploiters of minors.” A similar photo collage was posted on August 28 by a Facebook user, “Boris Gedevani,” adding photos of activists Tornike Jandieri and Khatia Tsereteli, who had been detained on charges of promoting prostitution.
Another photo posted by “Mikhun Hauzeni” depicted Amaghlobeli with Lazare Grigoriadisi, captioned, “The time of the masked has come, and the mask has become a face.” In order to mock the demand for Mzia Amaglebel’s release, a caption reading “Freedom for Mzia” appears on a photo of Putin posted by Facebook user Kakha Danelia.
For discreditation purposes, on August 5 and 17, the anonymous account “Daat Tsabadze” shared AI-generated photos of Amaghlobeli. In the first photo she is depicted as the “queen of spades,” and in the other, as the “Mona Lisa.”
Messages from Georgian Dream Representatives, Pro-Government Experts, and Anti-Liberal Actors Against Amaghlobeli
- “Amaghlobeli acted deliberately under orders from the opposition and the West, seeking to provoke political unrest and open a second front in Georgia.”
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other ruling party members (Kakha Kaladze, Irakli Kirtskhalia, Irakli Kadagishvili) linked Amaghlobeli’s case to a political directive. Kobakhidze said the journalist was “not a victim” and that her actions served to discredit the police and state institutions. Over recent months, he claimed twice that Amaghlobeli carried out a “specific order” to “discredit and humiliate” the police. In July, he noted again that weakening security forces was also a desirable outcome for the West, as it would undermine the state. These statements effectively predetermined the criminal nature of Amaghlobeli’s actions.
In January 2025, Kobakhidze and Kaladze stated that Amaghlobeli showed no remorse, which could not justify a humane approach. Kobakhidze stressed that her actions harmed the image of the police and state institutions. Kaladze argued that while mistakes can happen to anyone, Amaghlobeli’s case should be treated as a crime because she physically assaulted a police officer.
Pro-government experts and pro-Russian actors (Goga Khaindrava, Ghia Abashidze, Beso Barbakhadze, Soso Manjavidze) viewed the slap as a crime against the state and an insult to the system. They framed the case not as an isolated incident but as part of a broader revolutionary scenario, aiming to discredit the state, overthrow the government, and involve Georgia in war. The “Soros network” and “ambassadors’ revolution” narratives were often referenced.
Like Kobakhidze, Irakli Kadagishvili argued that the case was linked to the attempt of “ambassadors’ revolution” and that Western diplomatic interference harmed their countries’ credibility. Irakli Kirtskhalia said Amaghlobeli’s actions insulted the state and followed orders to involve the country in the ongoing war. Kakha Kaladze emphasized that slapping a police officer was a clear crime, while Western partners justified it.
Goga Khaindrava called portraying Amaghlobeli as a “prisoner of conscience” absurd and stressed that the support for Amaghlobeli from European and American politicians was a manifestation of hostility toward Georgia. Jaba Khubua described the case as part of “color revolution technology.” Ghia Abashidze stated the attacker could not be glorified, and calling her a “prisoner of conscience” was immoral. Soso Manjavidze claimed Amaghlobeli was a “veteran Sorosite” and her action was directed against Georgia’s state system. Beso Barbakhadze argued that Western support for her release aimed to escalate tension, overthrow the government, and open a “second front.”
- “International organizations and diplomats interfere in Georgia’s domestic affairs by attending Amaghlobeli’s trial and commenting on the case.”
Georgian Dream politicians (Irakli Kheladze), associated experts, pro-government media journalists (Zviad Avaliani, Irakli Chikhladze, Gela Nikolaishvili – Asaval-Dasavali, Aug 11-17), and pro-Russian groups (Soso Shatberashvili, Nikoloz Mzhavanadze) accused Western ambassadors of interfering in Georgia’s domestic affairs. They claimed that their attending Amaghlobeli’s trial was a gross violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and justice system and that expressing their position was an attempt to put pressure on the court and government of the country.
Irakli Kheladze noted it would be unthinkable in Germany for a foreign ambassador to attend a trial in a language they did not understand, effectively pressuring the judge. Zviad Avaliani said such practices do not exist in Western countries, and ambassadors attempt to influence a court decision only in Georgia. According to Irakli Chikhladze, diplomats simultaneously acknowledge Amaghlobeli’s crime while ignoring the country’s supreme law.
Nikoloz Mzhavanadze claimed that calls from 24 embassies for Amaghlobeli’s release constituted a gross violation of the court and constitution and represented an example of foreign diplomats’ interference in Georgia’s domestic affairs. Soso Shatberashvili argued that ambassadors present themselves as judges and by participating try to influence the process. Gela Nikolaishvili noted that diplomats prepared statements in advance, showing that Western countries politicized the case from the start.
“Double standards – a crime punished strictly in the West is encouraged by ambassadors in Georgia.”
Georgian Dream politicians (Irakli Cheishvili, Davit Matikashvili, Mikheil Kavelashvili, Irakli Kheladze), pro-government media representatives (Zviad Avaliani), and pro-Russian groups (Nikoloz Mzhavanadze 1, 2) criticized the West for double standards. They claimed that in European countries, attacking a police officer is severely punished, whereas in Georgia, Western ambassadors show solidarity and criticize legal measures.
Irakli Cheishvili said that even verbal abuse toward a police officer in EU countries would provoke serious sanctions, while in Georgia, ambassadors support the accused. Davit Matikashvili and Mikheil Kavelashvili argued that similar acts in Germany or other European states would have been punished far more severely. Irakli Kheladze stated that the ambassadors’ statements constituted a direct attack on Georgian justice.
Pro-government media host Zviad Avaliani emphasized that in the West, not only physical violence but also police disobedience is punished, which seems to be ignored in Georgia. Nikoloz Mzhavanadze accused Western diplomats of interfering in domestic affairs, claiming that those deemed heroes in Georgia would have been “exiled” in Europe for the same acts.
