The Tbilisi Court of Appeal’s recent decision to uphold jailed Mtavari Arkhi TV Chief Nika Gvaramia’s sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison has triggered varying reactions from politicians.

The following are quotes from the ruling party, the opposition, the lawyer and the U.S. Embassy.

Georgian Dream party Chair Irakli Kobakhidze: “If the Georgian President pardons Nika Gvaramia, it will be an insult to the presidency as an institution, which I don’t think is right. You may recall Nika Gvaramia insulting Salome Zourabichvili and using derogatory language against her. This was an affront not only to Salome Zourabichvili but also to the president’s office.”

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze: “Fortunately, there are no political prisoners in Georgia; instead, we have specific criminals serving sentences for specific offences. I am not pleased to see someone imprisoned, but if a person has committed a crime, he must be brought to justice.”

Ex-Georgian Dream MP Gedevan Popkhadze: “We must forge such unity in a bid to discomfort the government and make it realise that its unjust and criminal actions will be met with an adequate response. We are not leaving; those who are unable to leave should protest here. We need to do more, to break more things in order to gain freedom, as we have seen criminal offences today.”

Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition party leader Giorgi Vashadze: “Georgia must choose between Russia and Europe. Our path leads to Europe. We face many ordeals along the way, which we will overcome quickly if we unite. Gvaramia will be liberated in the event of unity. In the event of common European unity on the European flank, we will be granted candidate status and both political prisoners, Gvaramia and Saakashvili, will be released.”

United National Movement opposition party member Khatia Dekanoidze: “Now is the time for the President to take responsibility and use the pardon mechanism to free Gvaramia. I would like to openly urge Georgia’s President to accept responsibility for the country’s European integration and release Nika Gvaramia. We will think of the form. This is not only about the Gvaramia’s political views but Georgia’s European future.”

The U.S. Embassy in Georgia: “At a time when Georgia’s commitment to an impartial judiciary and media pluralism is being closely reviewed, the continued imprisonment of Nika Gvaramia, the Director General of the main opposition TV channel, puts at risk the clear choice of the people of Georgia – and Georgian leaders’ stated goal – for a more secure, democratic European future.”

Gvaramia’s lawyer Dito Sadzaglishvili: “They [judges] actually upheld an illegal sentence, depriving not only Nika Gvaramia of his freedom but also this country and impeding its path toward European integration. I am confident that the truth will be revealed. This court isn’t interested in the law; it’s just a task executor, and Chinchaladze’s court clearly accomplished that task.”

According to the Tbilisi Court of Appeals, Nika Gvaramia, the founder and director of Mtavari Arkhi TV, will stay in custody.

For the record, on 16 May 2022, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Gvaramia to 3.5 years in prison for abusing his position and harming the financial interests of the Rustavi 2 TV he had previously run.

Both the prosecution and the defence filed appeals against the Tbilisi City Court’s decision.