Nika Gvaramia is a Georgian lawyer, civil society leader, and media entrepreneur who founded Mtavari Arkhi, an opposition and pro-Western media organization in Georgia. He has been recognized internationally for his dedication to promoting freedom of speech and democratic ideals, receiving nominations for the International Press Freedom Award and a prestigious medal from the Ukrainian Parliament for his efforts against Russia's malign influence. Gvaramia's career also includes various leadership roles in Georgian politics, such as serving as Minister of Justice and Minister of Science and Education. Under the Georgian Dream ruling party, he faced political imprisonment in 2022 and was later pardoned by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili.[1]
Nika Gvaramia | |
|---|---|
| ნიკა გვარამია | |
| Nika Gvaramia, Founder of Mtavari Arkhi | |
| Mtavari Arkhi Broadcasting Company, Founder | |
| In office September 8, 2019 – Present | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 29, 1976 Sukhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Tbilisi State University, Emory University |
| Awards | [International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists] |
Nika Gvaramia (Georgian: ნიკა გვარამია) (born June 29, 1976) is a Georgian lawyer, civil society leader and media entrepreneur. He is the founder of Mtavari Arkhi, Georgia's key opposition and pro-Western media institution.
He was recently nominated for the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists, scheduled for presentation in November, for his significant contributions to promoting freedom of speech and democratic ideals. In August 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament honored Nika Gvaramia with a prestigious medal in recognition of his efforts in fighting against Russia’s malign influence in Georgia and beyond.
Early Life and Education
Gvaramia was born on June 29, 1976, in the [currently] Russia-occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia. Nika Gvaramia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law from Tbilisi State University and an LLM from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Political and Media Career
Since 2012, Nika held leadership roles at two pivotal opposition broadcasting entities in Georgia: Rustavi 2 and Mtavari Arkhi. However, his journey took a challenging turn in May 2022 when he faced legal consequences, resulting in a 3.5-year prison sentence orchestrated by the ruling Georgian Dream party of the Moscow-tied oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Notably, reputable institutions like the European Parliament and the U.S. State Department widely recognized the case as politically motivated. Amnesty International called Gvaramia’s imprisonment “a politically motivated silencing of dissenting voice.” In light of public pressure, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili exercised her exclusive prerogative and granted Gvaramia a pardon in June 2023.[1]
In 2004, Gvaramia was elected to the Georgian Parliament following Georgia's transformative Rose Revolution led by Mikheil Saakashvili. He was then appointed First Deputy Prosecutor General of Georgia in March 2007.[2] On January 24, 2008, Gvaramia was nominated and on January 31, appointed Minister of Justice.[3][4][5] He served as the Minister of Justice until October 27, 2008. He was then appointed Minister of Science and Education, the position he quit on December 7, 2009.[6]
Personal life
Gvaramia is married and has three children.
References
- 1 2 "Georgian President pardons Nika Gvaramia". 23 June 2023.
- ↑ "Messenger Online. Cabinet Profiles". Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ↑ "Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Nika Gvaramia - 2008/01/31 - 2008/10/27". Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ↑ "Cabinet Wins Confidence Vote". Civil Georgia. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ↑ "New Cabinet Named". Civil Georgia. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ↑ GAVIN, GABRIEL (June 23, 2023). "Georgian president pardons jailed journalist after EU, US outcry". Politico. Politico.