NGOs and media ask Charles Michel to call on the President of Georgia to pardon Nika Gvaramia

Part of non-governmental organizations and the media appealed to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, with a request to call on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to pardon Nika Gvaramia.

According to the signatories of the appeal, Gvaramia’s case is politically motivated. They consider the accusations against him unfounded. The authors of the statement also refer to the opinions submitted to the court by the Public Defender of Georgia and non-governmental organizations:

“We think that Nika Gvaramia is in prison today only because he is an ardent critic of the authorities and has a great influence on shaping public opinion. The television company Mtavari Arkhi, founded by him, along with other television companies, is a constant object of attacks and harassment by the state.

We believe that the arrest of Nika Gvaramia for political reasons is a huge obstacle to the European integration of Georgia. The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on freedom of the media and the safety of journalists in Georgia also unequivocally condemns the fact of his arrest and calls on the Georgian authorities to carry out real reforms,” the letter says.

Against the background of serious problems in the Georgian judicial system and the aggressive policy of the Georgian Dream towards critical media, they do not expect Nika Gvaramia’s rights to be protected in the Supreme Court, according to NGOs and media organizations:

“The only way to prevent his unjust imprisonment is for Nika Gvaramia to be pardoned by the president. Several public and political groups have already addressed this request to the President of Georgia.

We think that your appeal, as a staunch supporter of Georgia’s democratic development, may encourage Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to take a humane and important step for the country, to pardon the director of a critical media outlet and release a political prisoner from prison.

Mr. Michel, your mediation will make a serious contribution to the protection of freedom of speech in Georgia and will give strength to the aspiration of the Georgian people to Europe,” the statement says.

The letter was signed:

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics
Open Society Foundation
International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy
Transparency International Georgia
Georgian Young Lawyers Association
Georgian Democratic Initiative
media club
Media Development Fund
Mediaombudsman
Alliance of Broadcasters
TV network
Georgian Regional Media Association
Georgian Association of Small and Medium Telecommunication Operators
Mtavari Arkhi
Formula
TV PIRVELI
Netgazeti
Batumelebi
On.ge
Publika
Radio Company “Dzveli Kalaki”
Democracy Research Institute
Human Rights Center
GEORGIAN RADIO NETWORK – GRRN
Independent Journalists’ House
Green Alternative
Democracy Index Georgia