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: The Embassy described a "disturbing pattern of selective investigations and prosecutions" targeting opposition figures, stating that even the perception of such bias is detrimental to democracy.
Nika Gvaramia was arrested in May 2022 and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. : The Embassy described a "disturbing pattern of
: Following court rulings that upheld Gvaramia’s sentence, the U.S. Embassy in Georgia noted that the case "calls into question Georgia's commitment to rule of law". Embassy in Georgia noted that the case "calls
: The case led to public friction. Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze, who sentenced Gvaramia, was reportedly disenrolled from a U.S. Embassy-funded exchange program. The Embassy maintained that its support for the judiciary remains "non-partisan and apolitical". Case Background and Imprisonment Embassy-funded exchange program
The U.S. Embassy has maintained that the legal proceedings against Nika Gvaramia undermined public confidence in Georgia's rule of law and judicial independence. Key points from their official statements include:
: In official remarks, the U.S. stated that Gvaramia’s imprisonment put at risk Georgia's "stated goal for a more secure, democratic European future," emphasizing that media pluralism is essential for Euro-Atlantic integration.