Georgian journalist sentenced to two years in prison, sparking outrage at home and abroad

Mzia Amaghlobeli, a respected investigative journalist and founder of independent news outlets in Georgia, has been sentenced to two years in prison for slapping a police chief during anti-government protests in January 2025. Although initially facing charges that could have resulted in up to seven years imprisonment, she was convicted on lesser charges of resisting and using violence against law enforcement. The verdict has triggered widespread condemnation from 24 diplomatic missions, including the European Union, who issued a joint statement through the Media Freedom Coalition describing the sentence as "disproportionate and politically motivated.