EU welcomes Georgian President's decision to pardon oppositionist
The pardon by Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili of Nika Gvaramia, director general of the opposition Mtavari channel, is "a step towards depolarization in Georgia." This was stated by the President of the European Council Charles Michel. The politician also welcomes the statement of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili that the country will not return to the discussion of the draft law on “foreign agents”. “Georgia's future is in the EU,” Michel said.
The release of Nika Gvaramia was also positively received by the Helsinki Commission. “President Salome Zurabishvili has pardoned Nika Gvaramia, who was persecuted and unjustly imprisoned by the Georgian government. Thank you, Madam President, for yet another example of courage and leadership,” the statement said.
Recall that last year the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Nika Gvaramia, an associate of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, to 3.5 years in prison in the case of inflicting damage to the TV company Rustavi 2 in the amount of 6.8 million lari ($2.6 million). The country's Supreme Court recently upheld the lower court's decision. The opposition considers Gvaramia a political prisoner.
