Prosecutor’s Office Charges Nika Gvaramia

Nika Gvaramia, the former Director-General of Rustavi 2 TV Company, has been charged by the Prosecutor General's Office, where the charges were officially introduced to him. 

Prior to entering the building, Gvaramia made statements about today’s General Prosecutor’s Office decision to file charges against him in the Rustavi 2 case.

As Gvaramia told reporters, he has never been involved in the processes related to corruption and all these charges are just government's attempts to take revenge against him.

"Corruption has always been a red line for me and I've never been involved in such illegal activities. All these are attempts of Bidzina Ivanishvili (Chairman of the Ruling Party Georgian Dream) to take revenge against me because I've fought to destroy him for 7 years, and I will do it in the future as well. I will not forgive Ivanishvili accusations of stealing something. I knew that they would accuse me, they just couldn't find the things they were looking for. It is absurd to accuse someone of signing a bad contract. Everyone understands that. This contract was not created by me. It is signed by different departments, the final signature was mine. All these about the contract is a lie, because when I saw in the middle of the year that the contract was not working, I put pressure on intermedia, sent a person who was in charge to control the income.”Gvaramia said.

"They will regret making such shameful moves against me", he added. 

Gvaramia has already left the Prosecutor's Office. After leaving the building, he demonstratively tore the ruling on the charges in pieces in front of the media representatives. 

Tomorrow, the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia will apply to the court with a motion to impose a preventive measure against Gvaramia. 

As stated at today’s briefing held at the Prosecutor’s Office, Gvaramia is charged for abusing his power and making decisions which were harmful to the TV Channel.

"Nika Gvaramia is summoned to the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia today to submit a ruling on the charges. After the indictment is filed, the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia will apply to the court with a motion to impose a preventive measure,” the Prosecutor's Office said.

Gvaramia was charged for committing an offense under Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, involving the use of managerial and representational powers in an enterprise against the legitimate interest of the enterprise, for the purpose of getting profit for others, which caused significant damage.

The offense committed under the mentioned article shall be punished by fine or corrective labor for up to two years, or with imprisonment for a term of three to five years.

The investigation was launched based on the statement of the lawyer of Nino Nizharadze, former owner of 9% of Rustavi 2 shares, about the alleged crime committed by the management of the TV company. In addition, the statement of Paata Salia, new director of the channel, about alleged crime that significantly damaged the broadcasting company, was also attached to the case.

Related Story: Nika Gvaramia to be Charged in Rustavi 2 Case

By Ana Dumbadze