(NEW YORK)—In response to a Georgian court sentencing journalist Mzia Amaglobeli to two years in prison today, PEN America issued the following statement:
“The jailing of respected journalist Mzia Amaglobeli is a devastating blow to free expression and independent media in Georgia,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, managing director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center at PEN America. “This disproportionate and politically motivated sentence sends a chilling message to all journalists.”
“Georgian authorities must stop weaponizing the law to silence critical voices and must respect press freedom as a cornerstone of any democratic society.”
Amaglobeli is the founder of two independent media outlets in Georgia. Her disproportionate sentencing for slapping a police official during a protest in October is part of an alarming trend of suppressing free speech in the country.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.