Giorgi Rurua verdict - 20 opposition parties issue a joint statement

20 Opposition political parties have responded to conviction of Giorgi Rurua, one of the shareholders of Mtavari Channel , and have issued a joint statement.

The spectrum of the opposition calls the court decision political and writes that the release of Rurua as well as the inadmissibility of politically motivated cases is a key part of the March 8 agreement:

"Bidzina Ivanishvili has not yet fulfilled his obligations before Georgian and international community.Release of Giorgi Rurua and unacceptability of politically motivated cases is a key part of the March 8 agreement.

The case of Giorgi Rurua concerns not only the personal fate of this man, although the arrest of any person by political order is already a serious problem.  Leaving Rurua in prison based on  false evidence will determine the pre-election political climate. The release of Giorgi Rurua makes it possible for the country to run a difficult election campaign with less risk.  This is how the political spectrum of the Georgian opposition as well as Georgia's international partners see it.

The creation of a fair, transparent judicial system, free from political bias has been a serious problem in Georgia's recent history. The goal of the democratic opposition after the peaceful defeat of Ivanishvili in the elections will be to create such a system of justice," reads the statement.

The statement was signed by:

• "European Georgia"
•  "Labor Party"
• "Victorious Georgia"
•  "European Democrats"
•  " State for People Movement "
•  "Serve Georgia"
•  "Republican Party"
• "Law and Justice"
•  "Civil Alliance for Freedom"
• "United Georgia-Democratic Movement"
•  "New Georgia"
• "Free Democrats"
•  "For Justice"
• "Christian Conservative Party"
•  "Georgia Among Leaders"
•  "Georgian Parliamentary Society"
•  "United National Movement"
•  "Lelo"
• "National Democratic Party"
•  "New Political Center Girchi"

On July 30, Judge Valerian Bugianishvili sentenced Giorgi Rurua to 4 years in prison.

The decision has already been met with harsh assessments from international partners and friends. Western partners call on Georgian President to pardon Giorgi Rurua.
Despite this, President Salome Zurabishvili, later on, after the decision said she will not pardon Giorgi Rurua.