McCain Institute says it has played pivotal role in release of opposition leader Nika Gvaramia

The McCain Institute said it had played a pivotal role in the release of Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, who as the statement claimed was sentenced over three years “for his reporting”.

“The McCain Institute played a pivotal role in the release of Georgian journalist and media owner Nika Gvaramia, who was sentenced over three years for his reporting. Through media outreach, political engagement and coordination with legal teams, the McCain Institute helped secure his pardon and release after seven months of advocacy”, the statement said.

On May 16, 2022, Nika Gvaramia was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for abuse of power during his tenure as head of the Rustavi 2 TV company.

Gvaramia was accused of embezzling a large amount of property rights belonging to Rustavi 2 by a group of people in a pre-arranged manner, commercial bribery and the preparation of false official documents, and legalisation of illegal income.

Gvaramia was pardoned by the former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili.