"Nika was expecting and was sure that Bidzina Ivanishvili would arrest him"

Nika Gvaramia was visited by his lawyer Dimitri Sadzaglishvili at Rustavi 12th Penitentiary Institution. After leaving the penitentiary, Sadzaglishvili said that today's court decision was not a surprise for Nika Gvaramia:

"It was not a surprise for him, and I knew it before the verdict was announced, Nika was waiting and was sure that Bidzina Ivanishvili would arrest him. He has a good idea of how critically-minded TV directors are treated in the countries where Ivanishvili is unfortunately driving us, I mean Russia and Belarus," Sadzaglishvili said.

According to him, at the meeting mostly organizational issues were discussed. According to the lawyer, the decision will be appealed in the court of appeals, but Nika Gvaramia does not have any expectations from the second instance.

"It is very important now to preserve critical media and not to suppress a dissenting opinion, and I am sure that this will not happen to the TV channel Mtavari. Nika also thinks that's the most important thing now and I think the team created Nika Gvaramia is much more motivated: "He will be able to fight and be productive against the pro-Putin regime," Sadzaglishvili said.

As for the issue of pardon, according to the lawyer, the position is unchanged:

"We have nothing to add either. Nika Gvaramia said very clearly that no one should ask Salome Zurabishvili for anything, it obviously means a pardon. This was said by Dito Sadzaglishvili after he was released from prison.