Opposition leader Gvaramia sentenced to eight months in prison in Georgia

Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Coalition for Change party, has been sentenced to eight months in prison for refusing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission formed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The verdict was delivered by Judge Jvebe Nachkebia earlier on Tuesday. 

In addition to the prison term, Gvaramia has been barred from holding public office for the next two years. The sentencing was not covered by media outlets, following a recent law hastily passed by Georgian Dream lawmakers that restricts media access to such proceedings.

The investigative commission, chaired by former justice minister and Vice Speaker Thea Tsulukiani, was established in February to examine alleged abuses committed under the previous United National Movement (UNM) government. Georgian Dream has repeatedly claimed that the current opposition, which includes former UNM members and allies, constitutes a “collective national movement” working against state interests.

Despite being in custody since June 13, when the court revoked his bail and ordered imprisonment as a preventive measure, Gvaramia was again summoned by the commission and refused to appear. The case was subsequently transferred to the prosecutor’s office.

On the day of his arrest, Gvaramia went to Rustavi Penitentiary voluntarily, contacted the police, and was detained outside the facility by criminal officers.

Gvaramia is one of eight opposition figures facing legal consequences for failing to cooperate with the commission. All eight are currently in custody. Seven - including Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Badri Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Givi Targamadze, and Giorgi Vashadze - have also received prison sentences, while one, Irakli Okruashvili, remains in pre-trial detention.