The Tbilisi City Court has terminated the proceedings regarding a lawsuit filed by journalist Mzia Amaglobeli against Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The plaintiff claimed that several public statements made by Kobakhidze in television broadcasts and interviews violated the presumption of innocence and damaged her honor and dignity. In the lawsuit, she requested the court to recognize these remarks as defamatory.
Mzia Amaglobeli herself attended the court hearing; however, neither the defendant nor his representative appeared in court, nor did they submit any written objections to the lawsuit.
The journalist’s lawyer, Ana Rekhviashvili, stated that the plaintiff’s side moved for a default judgment and the satisfaction of the claim due to the defendant’s failure to appear. According to her, the court refused to consider the motion as requested and instead focused on whether Kobakhidze’s statements could be considered part of a political debate, which, in the court’s view, precludes legal liability.
The defense also asked the court to clarify whether it considered the disputed statements defamatory; however, the court declined to provide such a legal assessment and, after a brief review of the parties’ positions, terminated the proceedings.
According to the lawyer, the court indicated that Kobakhidze’s statements, made in an interview format, fall within the realm of political discussion and cannot lead to liability within the framework of this civil dispute.
Mzia Amaglobeli’s representatives stated their intention to appeal the decision, despite what they described as a low level of trust in the judicial system and the ongoing restriction of the journalist’s rights.
Previously, on various television channels, Irakli Kobakhidze claimed that Mzia Amaglobeli “stuck stickers on police officers,” “acted as a party activist,” and “was carrying out a specific assignment.”
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