Nika Gvaramia Officially Refuses to Pay the Bail

Nika Gvaramia, the former Director-General of Rustavi 2 TV Company, has officially refused to pay GEL 40 000 bail, which was ordered to him by the Tbilisi City Court.

Former Director-General of Rustavi 2 and his lawyer Dimitri Sadzaglishvili arrived at the prosecutor's office yesterday evening, where a unique code for bail was handed over to them.

As stated by Gvaramia, he is not going to pay the bail and if his charges are aggravated because of it, he sees no problem in that.

“There was the procedure of giving a unique code for bail. I have not even looked at this document. I do not know this unique code, only this agency knows and from now on if anyone has contributed anything to my account, it is only the merit of this agency, I do not have this information. I am not going to pay the bail, I was warned that charges against me might be aggravated by this. I don't see any problem. If they punish me with imprisonment, I will obey, this is the state and I’m not crazy not to obey its will.  Ok, let them detain me”, Gvaramia told journalists after he left the building of the Prosecutor’s Office along with his lawyer.

The Tbilisi City Court partially upheld the motion of the Prosecutor's Office and ordered 40,000 GEL bail for Nika Gvaramia, the former Director-General of Rustavi 2 TV Company.

Additionally, the Court banned Gvaramia from leaving the country without warning the Prosecutor's Office.

Nika Gvaramia has 30 days to pay the bail. As stated by the judge, the measure of restraint may be changed if he does not pay the bail within the prescribed period.

Gvaramia was charged under Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, involving the use of managerial and representational powers in an enterprise against the legitimate interests of the enterprise, for the purpose of profiting 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 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, the new director of the channel, about an alleged crime that significantly damaged the broadcasting company, was also attached to the case.

Related Story: Court Orders 40,000 GEL Bail for Nika Gvaramia

By Ana Dumbadze