Charged opposition-minded TV head Gvaramia threatens ruling party founder: ‘i’ll destroy you

Head of the opposition-minded Mravari Arkhi TV channel, former official and ex-Director General of Rustavi 2 TVl Nika Gvaramia has threatened the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili by using a slang to say “I’ll destroy you.”

Attending a trial hearing in a case involving him on Wednesday, Gvaramia said that “like a previous charge, current charges against me (which concern abuse of authority and appropriation of funds in large quantities while in Rustavi 2) are politically grounded.” 

Gvaramia claimed that Ivanishvili “is standing behind the charges,” noting that the goal of his life over the past several years was to create problems for Ivanishvili. 

He also said that if he is convicted, “please no one request the so-called president to pardon me. It will be insulting.” 

Gvaramia served as education and justice minister under the United National Movement government

With his qualification in law, he is a lawyer of the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili. 

Back in 2019 the European Court of Human Rights delivered a verdict in favor of the former owner of Rustavi 2 who claimed that the United National Movement leadership illegally seized the property from him.

The current owner claims that Gvaramia,while in the channel, appropriated funds in large quantities before being fired the same year the judgment was announced.