MEP Viola von Cramon claims she was informed about Georgian president’s plans to pardon TV figure Gvaramia in May

MEP Viola von Cramon last week claimed she learnt about Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili’s plans to pardon the Mtavari Arkhi channel head Nika Gvaramia during the official’s presence in Brussels at the end of May and addressing MEPs in the European Parliament. 

 

In her comments for the channel, the MEP claimed the European lawmakers had been keeping the forthcoming decision “secret” until Zourabichvili officially announced it on June 22. 

 

Extending her congratulations to the channel on the release of Gvaramia, von Cramon stressed it was a “bold decision” by the president, claiming “I knew that beforehand”. 

 

“To be honest, I knew about [the president’s move] beforehand. I was informed about it while Zourabichvili was addressing the EP. We have been keeping it a secret and I was so happy to see you happy yesterday”, the MEP told the channel. 

 

The MEP also expressed her hopes “similar steps” would continue, which she said would benefit the country’s European integration ahead of the bloc’s forthcoming decision whether to grant Georgia its memebsrhip candidate status later this year. 

 

Gvaramia was convicted last year for abuse of power while at the helm of the Rustavi 2 TV channel and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.