Georgia – Pardoning of Nika Gvaramia announced (June 23, 2023)

France applauds the decision made by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon the television channel owner Nika Gvaramia. Mr. Gvaramia’s trial and sentencing had raised questions regarding Georgia’s commitment to ensuring media freedom and judicial independence.

As Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna stated once again during her visit to Tbilisi on April 28, Georgia’s future is in the European Union. France calls on Georgia’s government and all its political forces to unite in order to speed up reforms, with a special focus on making headway on the implementation of the twelve key priorities that were identified by the European Commission in its oral report presented on June 21.