Georgian court imprisons opposition head over investigation no-show

The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, to eight months in prison for failing to comply with the requirements set by the parliament’s temporary investigative commission.

The commission was established on February 5, 2025, to investigate alleged crimes committed by political officials during the United National Movement’s governance from 2003 to 2012, as well as the conduct of former and current officials after their transition to the opposition, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

By law, failure to appear before the commission’s sessions carries legal consequences. The court’s ruling was announced on Tuesday, July 1. Alongside the prison sentence, Gvaramia was barred from holding any public office for two years. Notably, Gvaramia did not attend the court hearing.

During the United National Movement’s tenure, Nika Gvaramia held several high-profile positions, including Deputy Prosecutor General of Georgia, Minister of Justice, and from October 2008 to December 2009, Minister of Education and Science.

By Tamilla Hasanova