The President of the European Council has made it clear that they are closely monitoring the trial of Nika Gvaramia and the comments made by the Georgian Public Defender. The President’s Cabinet has also emphasized the importance of the Georgian government following the political agreement made on April 19, 2021.
Nika Gvaramia, the founder of a TV channel critical of the government, has been in prison for over five months and has been given a three-and-a-half-year sentence. The Head of the Cabinet, Frédéric Bernard, expressed gratitude to the Georgian media for their letter of concern regarding Gvaramia’s imprisonment on May 24.
The European Council is paying close attention to Gvaramia’s case, as stated in the letter. Bernard stated, “We have taken note of the Georgian Public Defender’s statement, which raises doubts about the reasoning behind Mr Gvaramia’s conviction and sentencing.”
The Cabinet of the President stresses the importance of upholding fundamental rights and ensuring a fair legal process, in accordance with the rule of law and international commitments, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
“The EU has repeatedly urged the Georgian authorities to carry out a comprehensive reform of the judiciary,” said Bernard. “This is also a key aspect of the political agreement made on April 19, 2021, and the recently adopted EU-Georgia Association Agenda.”
Bernard also stated that the EU will continue to closely monitor Gvaramia’s trial and the wider justice reform through the EU Delegation in Tbilisi. It is clear that the EU is concerned about the state of the judiciary in Georgia and will continue to push for necessary reforms.
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