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US Embassy says Gvaramia’s case calls into question Georgia’s commitment to rule of law

Politics
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The US Embassy to Georgia says that the recent judgment of Tbilisi City Court into the case involving the head of the opposition-minded Mtavari channel Nika Gvaramia and his associates “calls into question Georgia’s commitment to rule of law, and further demonstrates the fundamental importance of having an independent, impartial judiciary in Georgia.” 

“From its inception, this case has raised questions, including about the timing and the charges. The disturbing pattern of selective investigations and prosecutions targeting those in opposition to the current government undermines the public’s confidence in the police, prosecution, the courts, and the government itself. Particularly at this time, when Georgia has an unprecedented opportunity to advance its Euro-Atlantic integration, even the perception of politicized prosecution is detrimental,” said the embassy. 

The embassy stated that it is  the United States’” firm position” that a “healthy democracy” depends on ensuring judicial independence and protecting media freedom. 

“That is why we have repeatedly called for the government to undertake comprehensive reforms to advance these fundamental democratic principles,” said the embassy. 

The court sentenced Gvaramia to three years and six months in prison for abuse of power while heading Rustavi 2 TV back in 2019. Transparency International Georgia and the opposition say that Gvaramia is politically persecuted, while the ruling party stated that everyone is equal before law. 

Gvaramia, former education and justice minister of Georgia under the United National Movement government, who ran Rustavi 2 TV between 2012 and 2019, was accused of embezzling large amounts of property belonging to Rustavi 2, commercial bribery and forging official documents, legalizing illegal income by a group with a preliminary agreement and abuse of power back in 2020. 

The judge of Tbilisi City Court found Gvaramia guilty of only abuse of authority on Monday, saying that Gvaramia’s activities in Rustavi 2 in 2019, prior to the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights on the Rustavi 2 ownership dispute, financially affected the channel.

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