European deputies called on the President of Georgia to pardon the general director of the opposition TV channel

12 MEPs called on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to pardon Nika Gvaramia, director general of the opposition Mtavari Arkhi TV channel. This is stated in their joint statement.

“Dear Madam President,

Georgia has been following the path of European integration for many years. This path is not easy, but it is firmly supported by the overwhelming majority of the Georgian people.

Recently, with the recommendation of the European Commission and the decision of the Council of Europe, Georgia has opened the prospect of obtaining the status of a candidate member of the EU. A historic opportunity for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia has been provided by the huge sacrifices Ukraine has made to protect the values ​​that the EU is also built on from Russia’s aggressive war.

We, the supporters of the pro-European path of Georgia in the European Parliament, are convinced that this opportunity should not be missed and every possible effort should be made to bring Georgia closer to the status of an EU candidate and start negotiations on membership with the European Union.

Unfortunately, Georgia is widely perceived as a country where politically motivated persecution and prison sentences are possible for public figures who are critical of the current government. The presence of political prisoners is incompatible with the status of a potential EU candidate country.