President should use her right to pardon Gvaramia until it’s time – opposition leader Tsereteli

The president should understand that no one will take the instrument of pardon home, she should use it while she is in office, Gigi Tsereteli, the chairman of the political council of the European Georgia opposition party said on Thursday. 

He suggested that “it is the right time” for her now to use her authority over the imprisoned head of the opposition-minded Mtavari channel Nika Gvaramia. 

“There should be no need of appeals for her. She should feel the necessity herself”, Tsereteli said. 

The court of appeals on Wednesday upheld the previous verdict against Gvaramia and left him in custody for three years and six months for abuse of power while running the Rustavi 2 TV channel. 

The opposition has called the president to pardon the “political prisoner”. 

 

Hoover, the head of the ruling party, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that it would be an “insult” to her office if Zourabishvili accepted the calls, as “Gvaramia had insured her numerous times”.