The Moscow Garrison Military Court has arrested Visam Ali Bardvil, a member of the Ulema Council of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia and imam of the South Butovo mosque. He was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization).
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has pardoned Nika Gvaramia, director general of the opposition Mtavari Arkhi TV channel. Last year, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's associate to 3.5 years in prison in a case of inflicting 6.8 million lari ($2.6 million) on Rustavi 2 TV company. The country's Supreme Court recently upheld the lower court's decision.
The opposition considers Nika Gvaramia a political prisoner.
The decision to pardon him will cost the political biography of President Salome Zurabishvili quite dearly. This was stated by Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Gia Volsky. At the same time, Volsky called Zurabishvili's refusal to explain the reasons for his decision “humiliating society”.