"I will not bow to this regime... I will not play by its rules. I am on hunger strike. There is something greater than life itself — it's freedom," wrote prominent Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli from her prison cell in the regional city of Batumi.

Amaglobeli, founder of the news outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested in January amid ongoing anti-government protests on charges of "assaulting a police officer." The journalist now faces 4-7 years in prison.

Amaglobeli and her team of independent journalists have been reporting on violent police crackdowns during demonstrations that have continued across the country since its contested October parliamentary elections and the ruling party's decision to freeze EU integration.

Numerous voting irregularities documented by election watchdogs have led many in the country to suspect the ruling Georgian Dream party of manipulating polling outcomes in its favor. The party, however, fiercely denies that violations affected election results. Opponents believe the party is gravitating towards Moscow, while the overwhelming majority of Georgians see their future in the EU.

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