Media coalition addresses Charles Michel on Nika Gvaramia's case
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The Media Advocacy Coalition appealed to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on the case of Nika Gvaramia, director of the "Mtavari Channel". The signatories ask Charles Michel to lobby Salome Zourabichvili because they believe that Michel's appeal might influence her to make a 'humane' step and pardon Nika Gvaramia.
"On November 2, 2022, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals left Nika Gvaramia, the founder and director of the independent TV company "Mtavari Channel" in prison. In our deep belief, this is a politically motivated case, and the allegations against him are baseless. This was indicated by the independent opinions presented to the court by the Public Defender of Georgia and non-governmental organizations.
We think that Nika Gvaramia is a prisoner today only because he is a loud critic of the government and has a great influence on the formation of public opinion. The TV company "Mtavari" created by him, along with other TV companies, is a constant object of attack and harassment from the government.
We think that arresting Nika Gvaramia for political reasons is a huge obstacle on the path of Georgia's European integration. The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on the 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.
Against the backdrop of severe challenges in the Georgian judicial system and taking into account the aggressive policy of "Georgian Dream" towards critical media, we do not expect that Nika Gvaramia's rights will be protected in the Supreme Court. The only way to prevent his unjust imprisonment is to pardon Nika Gvaramia 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 loyal supporter of the democratic development of Georgia, may make the President of Georgia, Mrs. Salome Zourabichvili, take a humane and important step for the country, pardon the director of the critical media and release the political prisoner from prison.
Mr. Michel, your petition will make a serious contribution to the protection of freedom of speech in Georgia and will add strength to the aspiration of the Georgian people towards Europe."
