This is an open political persecution of me and my media outlet - Nika Gvaramia on Gharibashvili's statement

Nika Gvaramia, CEO of the Mtavari channel, responds to a statement by Irakli Garibashvili, the candidate for prime minister of the Georgian Dream, and says it could have been a directive to the court regarding outright political persecution of himself and his media. Recall that Garibashvili called Nika Gvaramia a lowlife and a criminal.

"When the Prime Minister declares me a criminal, a major criminal, in a situation where I have not been convicted and there is a politically motivated criminal case against me in the court, how should this be perceived and assessed? Is it an indication to the court regarding open political persecution of me and my media?" - Nika Gvaramia wrote.

With this status he appealed to the Public Defender, non-governmental organizations, the European Union and the U.S. Embassy.