Batumelebi founder Mzia Amaghlobeli sentenced to two years for assaulting police officer

Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder and director of the domestic news outlet Batumelebi, who was detained after physically assaulting a law enforcement officer, on Wednesday was sentenced to two years in prison.

The verdict was announced by the judge Nino Sakhelashvili of the Batumi City Court.

The judge reclassified the charges and found Amaghlobeli guilty under Article 353, Part 1 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which pertains to resisting, threatening, or using violence against a public order officer or other government representative.

Amaghlobeli was initially detained on January 11 during a protest outside the Batumi Police Department.

She was first released with a written notice after an administrative offense, but was later rearrested after physically assaulting a law enforcement officer.