**Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli Fined for Second Time in Batumi Police Sticker Case**
In a move that has sparked further criticism of the Georgian government’s treatment of independent media, journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli was fined 1,000 GEL (about $370 USD) by Batumi City Court judge Mariana Pomaeva on June 18. This is the second time Amaghlobeli, the jailed director of media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been penalized for putting a protest sticker on an outbuilding at the Batumi police department.
**A Pattern of Harassment?**
Amaghlobeli is currently on trial for assaulting a police officer in a high-profile case that many see as a disproportionate and arbitrary application of criminal law aimed at silencing independent media. In March, she was already fined 2,000 GEL ($718 USD) by Batumi City Court Judge Salikh Shainidze on charges of police disobedience under Article 173 of the Administrative Code of Georgia.
**The Defence Speaks Out**
Amaghlobeli’s lawyers argue that the police fabricated an administrative offence report and provided false testimonies to justify her illegal detention in January over the sticker incident. They also claim that police resorted to trumping up disobedience charges because the original charges under Article 150 do not permit detention.
**A Colleague Speaks Out**
In a dramatic turn of events, Jaba Ananidze, a journalist and Amaglobeli’s colleague from Batumelebi, testified in court on June 9 that he was used as evidence in the police disobedience case despite being out of town at the time. He claimed it was impossible for him to be present at the scene where Amaghlobeli was detained.
**A Questionable Trial**
The second fine comes as Amaghlobeli’s trial continues to draw widespread scrutiny. Many see this and other incidents as evidence that the Georgian government is using the justice system to silence independent voices in media.
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