"Pardon Nika Gvaramia, prove that you really want to join the EU" - Media Advocacy Coalition to Zurabishvili

The Coalition to Protect Media appeals to President Salome Zurabishvili and asks her to solve the issue of pardoning the CEO of the Mtavari Channel Nika Gavaramia.

According to the coalition's statement this way the President will play her role in easing the current political crisis in the country and in the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union.

The Coalition to Protect Media appeals to President Salome Zurabishvili and asks her to solve the issue of pardoning the CEO of the Mtavari Channel Nika Gavaramia.

According to the coalition's statement this way the President will play her role in easing the current political crisis in the country and in the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union.

Media Advocacy Coalition member organizations appeal to you to consider and favorably decide upon the pardon of Nika Gvaramia, CEO of the Mtavari Channel, in connection with the arrest of the founder and CEO of the Mtavari Channel, who is critical to the government. The arrest of Nika Gvarama, the founder and CEO of Mtavari Channel, poses a real threat to our country.

Justified criticism of the arrest of Nika Gvaramia is also reflected in the June 8, 2022 European Parliament resolution on violations of media freedom and safety of journalists. The European Parliament calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold the highest standards of democracy in such areas as the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, a fair trial and fundamental freedoms, including media freedom.

We are pleased with your concern about the shortcomings of European integration related to the untimely arrest of Nika Gvaramia and the application of the most severe punishment to him on June 14, 2022. This verdict is based on the assessments prepared by the Public Defender of Georgia, Transparency International Georgia and the Georgian Young Lawyers Association.
It is also noteworthy that a number of national and international actors consider the arrest of Nika Gvaramia politically motivated.

As we know, the instrument of pardon is a historical component of the power package of heads of states. Article 53(2)(g) of the Georgian Constitution says the power of pardon is the exclusive competence of the President of Georgia. In addition to the functions assigned to the mechanism of checks and balances, the legal doctrine considers several traditional aims of the clemency instrument. These include consolidation of the nation and protection of state interests.

Your statement about consolidation of the nation and protection of state interests is a particular proposition in the context of Georgia's political polarization. The fact that Georgia's accession to the European Union is the declared wish of our people, gives the President of Georgia the opportunity to take all measures within her power to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

We are asking you, as the head of state of Georgia, to pardon Nika Gvaramia and thereby play your role in easing the current political crisis in the country and in the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union. Use your authority to prove a real desire to join the European Union and the country's readiness to overcome the existing obstacles," the statement reads.

The statement is signed by: Institute for Development of Freedom of Information; Liberal Academy Tbilisi; Media Club; Media Development Fund; Media Ombudsman; Alliance of Regional Broadcasters; TV Network; Transparency International - Georgia; International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy; Georgian Regional Media Association; Association of Small and Medium Service Operators of Georgia; Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics; Open Society Foundation.