The EU maintains that it is the responsibility of Georgia to make sure that all legal cases, including those against Mr. Gvaramia and Mr. Saakashvili, follow the highest standards and that fair rules and due process are applied, Ambassador of the European Union in Georgia, Carl Hartzell, said in response to questions asked by citizens.

“It is not my mandate to speak about the merits of individual cases. In general terms, upholding the rule of law is of critical importance for any democracy. The same goes for Georgia. There should be a widely shared perception and assessment that the courts are free and fair and that justice is carried out in a thorough and unbiased manner.

These cases took place against the background of the EU having already advised Georgia for some time to set higher standards related to the independence, transparency and impartiality of the judiciary in line with internationally recognized norms. And you see such calls again reflected in the Commission’s Opinion.

The EU maintains that it is the responsibility of Georgia to make sure that all legal cases, including those against Mr. Gvaramia and Mr. Saakashvili, follow the highest standards and that fair rules and due process are applied.

We are closely following the health conditions of the former President, and have insisted on the authorities’ ultimate responsibility to uphold his rights as a prisoner, his proper health treatment, and right to fair trial.

Mr. Gvaramia’s case follows the same principles. This case also raises issues regarding media freedom, which is seen in Georgia to have come under stress as of late,” Ambassador Hartzell said.