U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, on Thursday, said, “the importance of an impartial judiciary is central to that future, and anything that even has the appearance of politicization, or political prosecution, puts that Euro-Atlantic future at risk.”

Asked about the Gvaramia decision, the Ambassador continued: “This is a pledge that Georgia’s leaders, including the ruling party, made to the Georgian people in the Parliamentary elections to achieve the next important step on Georgia’s path to this Euro-Atlantic future. Anything that interferes with that right now, or even puts it at risk, is of great concern.”

“In the United States, we protect and cherish the independence of our judiciary because we know that an impartial judiciary is the foundation of our democracy. That is what gives it the resilience and the strength to withstand the different challenges and tests of time, and we want the same for the people of Georgia. The Georgian people have said over and over again that they want a strong democracy. They want a Euro-Atlantic future, and the United States will continue to support the people of Georgia in achieving that aspiration. That is what we have been doing for 30 years, and that is what we will continue to do because we truly believe in Georgia’s success, and we want to see this country be stable, peaceful, and prosperous,” Ambassador Degnan underscored.

On Wednesday, the Tbilisi Court of Appeal upheld Mtavari Arkhi TV Chief Nika Gvaramia’s sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison.