Georgian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the independent newspapers Batumelebi and Netgazeti, on charges of assaulting a police officer.

Amaglobeli was among 10 people detained during a protest in Batumi on Saturday night after she pasted a sticker on a wall calling for a "General Strike in Georgia on January 15 at 3:00 PM." The strike, part of ongoing pro-European protests, has been widely promoted by independent media and social media platforms in Georgia.

Although initially released, Amaglobeli was detained again later in the evening. Lawyers were denied access to her for several hours, and the Public Defender’s representative who visited her said she had been "mistreated."

The investigation, confirmed by her legal team, is under Article 353 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which pertains to assault on a police officer or public institution and carries a prison sentence of four to seven years.

Amaglobeli told the Public Defender’s office that while trying to push through the crowd at the protest rally, she accidentally brushed against a police officer. 

No formal charges have been filed against her so far.

Protests in Batumi are part of the ongoing massive demonstrations opposing the ruling party’s decision to freeze the country's EU integration and its crackdowns on dissent. 

Georgian Dream representatives have yet to comment on the case.