The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabishvili, announced on June 22 that she signed the act of pardoning Nika Gvaramia, the general director of the “Mtavari Channel.”

"Today, I signed the act of pardoning Nikoloz Gvaramia. I made this decision after all legal steps were exhausted on June 19, when the Supreme Court did not accept the cassation lawsuit. I will not explain this decision; this is my discretionary right, which I am using today, " said Salome Zurabishvili.

After his release from prison, Nika Gvaramia told the media he would not return to the Mtavari Channel as a director. Still, he is ready to help the television out of the financial crisis.

"The main thing I will do is to get the Mtavari channel out of the difficulties it is in, although I am not going to lead the Mtavari channel. I will be its founder, as I am now. The Mtavari Channel has survived, showing that it can swim perfectly without me. It feels, I would say, better than if it was my condition”.

I will do things for the Mtavari channel that no one else can do either on the Mtavari channel or anywhere else. This is primarily about getting it out of the financial crisis, but the Mtavari channel will be led by the one who is still in charge - this is Giorgi Gabunia, its director. I will apply this proposal to the Supervisory Board; this will be the first thing I do," Gvaramia said while leaving Rustavi prison.

Public Defender of Georgia Levan Yoseliani reacted to the pardon of the founder of "Mtavari Channel," Nika Gvaramia, on his personal Facebook page. He welcomes the president's decision and notes that today the country is closer to Europe. "I welcome President Zurabishvili's decision to pardon Nika Gvaramia. Today we are closer to Europe", wrote the public defender.

Dozens of people are waiting for the release of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the "Mtavari Channel" in Rustavi. President Salome Zourabishvili pardoned him today, June 22. Nika Melia, a member of the "National Movement," is at the prison, said in a conversation with Radio Liberty that it is important to establish a fair government in the country.

Badri Japaridze, the leader of the opposition party "Lelo," said: “I welcome President Zurabishvili's decision to pardon Nika Gvaramia. This is a very important step towards depolarization and reduction of the confrontation introduced by the "Georgian Dream" in society. At the same time, it is important that one of the important topics in terms of joining the European Union, that the manager of the free media was in prison until now, has been removed, which is good. The president made a very positive and emotional decision!”

The ruling Georgian Dream party has reacted angrily. The first vice-speaker of the Parliament, Gia Volski, argued that this decision to pardon Nika Gvaramia would heavily impact the political biography of Salome Zurabishvili. He added that the president's statement does not explain Nika Gvaramia's pardon, which means the president does not consider herself accountable to the public.

Georgia’s Western partners have likewise reacted to the news 

The international media rights organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RSF) welcomed the decision to release Nika Gvaramia, which "the international community was waiting for."

The Helsinki Commission announced on Twitter that “Today, President @Zourabichvili_S pardoned @NikaGvaramia212, who has been hounded and unjustly imprisoned by #Georgia's government. Thank you, Madame President, for yet another example of courage and leadership.”

The member of the European Parliament, Miriam M. Lexmann, commented on Zurabishvili’s decision: “This is sincerely welcomed news. President Zourabichvili made the right decision and corrected injustice against @NikaGvaramia212 whose imprisonment was mockery of justice”.