“The case of Nika Gvaramia has raised questions in DC… This is a disturbing pattern of selective justice and persecution”

“The case of Nika Gvaramia has raised questions in DC… This is a disturbing pattern of selective justice and persecution” - Says Assistant Secretary Donfried To Mtavari Channel Journalist.

I will admit that I was not tracking that recent decision by the European Parliament, but I suppose it's not surprising and on this question of sanctions against Ivanishvili... we don't discuss potential sanctions. Sanctions are foreign policy tool that are meant to influence countries and individuals to change their behavior and we, here in Washington have criteria for sanctions in a really systematic and comprehensive manner. That said as you know, we take very seriously the issue of strengthening democratic institutions and processes and the rule of law in Georgia and we worked overtime very closely with Georgians on those issues including freedom of the press. I think that particularly at this time, because of Russia's war against Ukraine, the importance of forward progress on reform presents a real opportunity for Georgia to deepen those democratic reforms and advance on this path of your Euro-Atlantic integration.

Well, of course, I have been following the case of your CEO. That case has raised questions including about the timing about the charges and there is a disturbing pattern of selective investigations and prosecutions targeting those in opposition to the current government and that undermines the public's confidence in the police and the prosecution in the courts and in the government itself and particularly at this time when Georgia has this unprecedented opportunity that we talked about to further deepen its Euro-Atlantic integration, I think even the perception, of politicized prosecution, is detrimental, - Says Assistant Secretary Donfried.

Author: Demna Devdariani