Lithuania Must Act: Sanction Georgia's High Council of Justice to Defend Democracy and Press Freedom

This article was published in 15min (Lithuanian: Penkiolika minučių), one of the largest news websites in Lithuania, attributed to Giorgi Meladze. Given that the oped may be of wider interest, we are republishing the article in English, in a lightly edited machine translation.

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/nuomones/giorgi-meladze-lietuva-privalo-veikti-del-sakartvelo-18-2498830

The impending verdict for Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and recognized "prisoner of conscience" , marks a perilous moment for press freedom and justice in Georgia. Her potential imprisonment, stemming from an incident widely understood to have been provoked by the police, is a stark symbol of Georgia's alarming democratic backsliding and a direct assault on independent media. This situation demands an unequivocal response. Lithuania, a nation shaped by its own struggle against Russia’s totalitarian rule and a proven leader in confronting authoritarian aggression, must be prepared to impose targeted sanctions on all members of Georgia's High Council of Justice if Amaghlobeli is unjustly jailed.  Taking action would send a clear signal that there can be swift and certain consequences for engaging in repression.

Mzia Amaghlobeli faces four to seven years for "assaulting a police officer", a charge widely condemned as "excessive and politically motivated". Her testimony describes an "impulsive reaction to offensive, degrading, arrogant, and mocking treatment" by police during a violently suppressed protest. An expert found "no sign" of injury on the slapped police chief's face, and Georgia's Supreme Court doesn't even consider a slap an "attack" with minimal harm. The charges are glaringly disproportionate: another individual who slapped an officer, with driving offenses, received only a fine and three days detention, versus Amaghlobeli's potential seven years.

Procedural irregularities abound. The judge rejected motions to summon key witnesses, and transparency is curtailed with filming banned in courtrooms. This prosecution is part of a broader "authoritarian campaign of pressure" against independent media. Days before her verdict, Amaghlobeli's outlets, Batumelebi and Netgazeti, had bank accounts seized over alleged tax debt, despite active repayment. International press freedom groups condemn this as an "attempt to shut down the media organisation" and "direct pressure" on Amaghlobeli. This pattern reflects a “broader scaling back of democratic freedoms" under the Georgian Dream ruling party. The McCain Institute states her prosecution serves as "a warning aimed at all democracy fighters". Lithuania's response must directly counteract this chilling effect.

Lithuania's commitment to democracy is deeply ingrained. Many people remember first hand its decades-long struggle for independence from Soviet and Russian rule. This struggle against totalitarian rule underpins its dedication to these values. Unlike many post-Soviet states where the rule of law faltered, Lithuania built a durable democracy, more resistant to authoritarian pressures. This grants Lithuania unparalleled moral authority when it speaks out against authoritarian tendencies. 

This principled stance is reflected in Lithuania's proactive foreign policy.  A law effective May 2023 bans the promotion of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, defining "authoritarian regime" as a system rejecting "constitutional rights and freedoms". Amaghlobeli's case—with its politically motivated charges and suppression of independent media —aligns directly with this definition. Imposing sanctions would thus be a consistent, principled application of Lithuania's anti-authoritarian framework. 

Furthermore, Lithuania is a recognized leader in imposing "swift and certain consequences" for authoritarian aggression, possessing a robust framework for international and autonomous sanctions, including economic, financial, and political measures. 

Sanctions on the High Council of Justice are the most appropriate and targeted response to judicial complicity in Georgia's democratic backsliding. The High Council plays a pivotal role in judicial appointments and discipline, making its members directly responsible for upholding or undermining independence and enabling persecution. Lithuania possesses the capacity to implement such measures, with its comprehensive sanctions framework allowing for entry bans for targeted individuals. To date, 112 individuals linked with gross human rights violations in Georgia have been included in Lithuania’s sanctions list. These are precise tools aimed at individuals directly responsible for eroding the rule of law and suppressing freedoms, creating uncertainty, too, whether sanctioned individuals (here a complete list of the 15 members) will be allowed into the Schengen space at all. This approach pressures specific individuals, sending a clear message that complicity in political persecution will incur personal and professional consequences. With such measures Lithuania has repeatedly led the way for other countries in the Baltics and across the European Union. 

Georgia is in a severe crisis, which also is a test of European resolve.  Lithuania's targeted sanctions on Georgia's High Council of Justice, will not only reinforce its leadership in the pro-democracy camp but also send an unequivocal message globally: violations of press freedom, judicial independence, and fundamental human rights will incur swift, certain, and meaningful consequences. This decisive action is vital to help defend democratic space in and around Europe, at a time when these values are under assault.