Lithuanian Foreign Ministry condemns opposition leader Gvaramia arrest, urges EU response

Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the arrest of Georgian opposition leader Nika Gvaramia, calling it a stark illustration of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s true political nature. The Ministry urged the European Union to deliver a strong, unified response and to initiate a serious discussion on the future of EU-Georgia relations.

In a statement posted on social media, the Lithuanian MFA said:

“The most recent decision by Georgian Dream to imprison Nika Gvaramia, a political opponent and leader of the 'Coalition for Change' party, is a remarkable demonstration of what this political entity actually represents.”

“This calls for a strong EU27 response NOW and a serious discussion at June FAC about the future framework of EU-Georgia interaction. Failure to react on time does not eliminate the responsibility to react.”

Nika Gvaramia, a prominent Georgian opposition leader and co-founder of the Coalition for Change, was sentenced to pre-trial detention after repeatedly refusing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission, which many observers view as a politically motivated instrument aimed at persecuting the opposition.