Vice Prime Minister: Georgian judiciary independent of political processes
Davitashvili stressed equality before the law of citizens of the country, adding the reputation and image of the judiciary in Georgia should be “as defined by European values”. Photo: Government of Georgia.
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The judiciary in Georgia is independent of political processes and court decisions bear no political impact, Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister and Vice Prime Minister, said on Monday following claims by supporters of Nika Gvaramia, the former Rustavi 2 channel Director, of persecution following his sentencing by Tbilisi City Court for abuse of powers.
Members of the political opposition and some non-governmental organisations on Monday alleged political motives in the sentencing of the current Director of the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi channel, delivered earlier on Monday and related to his time at the helm of Rustavi 2.
Davitashvili stressed equality before the law of citizens of the country, adding the reputation and image of the judiciary in Georgia should be “as defined by European values”. The Government official emphasised the significance of the rule of law as part of the country’s ongoing European integration process.
The City Court on Monday sentenced Gvaramia to three years and six months in prison on the charges of causing a ₾6,763,509 ($2,239,572/€2,151,266) damage to Rustavi 2 between 2015-2019.
The prosecution sought charges for misappropriation or embezzlement in the case, however in its sentencing, the Court adjusted the articles of the charges to abuse of powers. The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has said it will appeal the decision to change the qualification.
Georgia’s European integration is a long-term process that must eventually lead to a full European Union membership, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili said on Monday.
The Georgian government has demonstrated a very high level of crisis management several times, Levan Davitashvili, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, said on Tuesday.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has said it will appeal the Tbilisi City Court’s decision to change the qualification in its sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the Mtavari Arkhi channel and former General Director of the Rustavi 2 channel, after the delivery of the verdict on Monday.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Georgian Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, on Monday rejected claims of political persecution in the sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of Mtavari Arkhi channel and former Director of Rustavi 2 channel, by the Tbilisi City Court on charges of embezzlement, commercial bribery, forgery and money laundering.
United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan on Monday stressed the importance of citizen “confidence” in the absence of “selective prosecution” after Tbilisi City Court sentenced Mtavari Arkhi channel founder Nika Gvaramia for abuse of powers related to his time at the helm of Rustavi 2 channel earlier during the day.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Government would “do its best” to protect the principle of the rule of law, which he called “one of the main European values”.
The verdict of the Tbilisi City Court, which this week sentenced Nika Gvaramia, the founder of Mtavari Arkhi channel, to three years and six months in prison, means the actions of the former Rustavi 2 channel Director are “no longer presumed,” Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Culture Minister Thea Tsulukiani said on Wednesday.
A discussion of the sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of Mtavari Arkhi channel and former Director of Rustavi 2, by Tbilisi City Court was held in a meeting between the United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan and representatives of Georgian media outlets on Wednesday.
Reporters and media managers of various media outlets held a rally in support of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of Mtavari Arkhi channel, who was sentenced to three years and six months in prison by Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday.
Tbilisi City Court Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze on Friday called on political parties, diplomatic corps, international and non-governmental organisations in Georgia to refrain from “putting pressure” on the Georgian court and allow judges to administer justice in a “peaceful environment”.
Georgian judges Levan Murusidze and Valerian Tsertsvadze on Thursday called the decision of the United States Department of State to impose travel restrictions on them for alleged corruption “unfair” and “politically grounded”.