Mamuka (Basti) Mgaloblishvili
Affiliated media: Publika, Journalist
Incident date: October 25, 2025
Attack type:
- Short-term detention
Who attacked: Authorities
Source: Publika
Location: Georgia, Tbilisi
Additional information:
Police officers dressed in civilian clothes detained Publika journalist Basti Mgaloblishvili near his home, holding him for about 50 minutes. According to Publika, the officers confiscated his phone and prevented him from contacting anyone during the detention. Afterward, Mgaloblishvili was released and told that the police had “mistaken him for someone else.” However, he recalls that the officers appeared to know exactly who he was, where he lived, and other personal details. In recent days, police have been actively detaining protesters, including journalists, who took part in demonstrations on Rustaveli Avenue, following the enforcement of new repressive laws that allow up to 15 days of detention for “artificially blocking the road.” Mgaloblishvili, who has been covering the protests extensively, said he believes his detention was yet another attempt to pressure the free media and suppress free speech.