Statement of Non-Governmental Organizations Regarding the Arrest of Nika Gvaramia

17 May, 2022

Non-governmental organizations express solidarity with Nika Gvaramia and Mtavari Arkhi team.

The decision of the Tbilisi City Court of May 16, 2022, and the imprisonment of Nika Gvaramia is perceived as a warning and threat to other independent media outlets to stop critical coverage of the government’s performance, cease watchdog activities, and refrain from the disclosure of facts that are undesirable to the government.

The imprisonment of the General Director of a critical media outlet, including on the basis of managerial decisions, is yet another example of selective investigation, prosecution, and conviction.

We think that this kind of development may have a negative impact on Georgia’s European integration process.

Signatures:

  1. Transparency International-Georgia (TI-Georgia)
  2. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)
  3. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
  4. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
  5. Liberal Academy Tbilisi
  6. Media Club
  7. The Media Development Foundation (MDF)
  8. Media Rights
  9. Georgian Alliance of Regional Broadcasters
  10. TV Net
  11. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
  12. Georgian Regional Media Association (GRMA)
  13. Georgian Telecommunication Operators Association (TOA)
  14. Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics
  15. Rights Georgia
  16. Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
  17. Media Ombudsman
  18. Georgia`s Reforms Associates (GRASS)
  19. Georgian Court Watch
  20. Green Alternative
  21. Governance Monitoring Center (GMC)
  22. PEN Georgia
  23. Human Rights Center (HRC)
  24. Society and Banks
  25. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
  26. Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)
  27. Civil Society Institute (CSI)
  28. Institute of Democracy
  29. Europe Foundation
  30. Rct Empathy
  31. Green Sector
  32. Independent Journalists’ House
  33. Democracy Research Institute – DRI
  34. Social Justice Center
  35. Sapari
  36. Georgian Regional Radio Network (GRRN)
  37. EuroClub Kvareli
  38. Atlantic Council of Georgia
  39. Centers for Civic Engagement (NCCE)
  40. Society Batomi
  41.  Democracy Defenders
  42. Shame Movement