Nika Gvaramia

Nikoloz "Nika" Gvaramia (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ [ნიკა] გვარამია) (born June 29, 1976) is a Georgian lawyer, politician, television host and businessman who had held posts of Minister of Justice and Minister of Education and Science. He was the Director General of Rustavi 2 and Mtavari Arkhi.

Nikoloz Gvaramia
ნიკოლოზ გვარამია
Minister of Education and Science
In office
October 27, 2008 – December 7, 2009
PresidentMikheil Saakashvili
Preceded byGhia Nodia
Succeeded byDimitry Shashkin
Minister of Justice of Georgia
In office
January 31, 2008 – October 27, 2008
PresidentMikheil Saakashvili
Preceded byEka Tkeshelashvili
Succeeded byZurab Adeishvili
First Deputy Prosecutor General
In office
March 2007 – January 31, 2008
Member of the Parliament of Georgia
In office
April 22, 2004 – April 5, 2007
Personal details
Born (1976-06-29) June 29, 1976
Sukhumi, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR
ChildrenSandro Gvaramia
Alma materTbilisi State University

Early life

Gvaramia was born on June 29, 1976, in Sukhumi, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR. He graduated from the Law Department of Tbilisi State University in 1998 and completed his post graduate studies in 2001. From 2002 through 2003, he practised law at "Sando Law Firm". In 2004, he worked as a lawyer at Telasi company.[1]

Political career

During 2003 elections, Gvaramia was elected to the Georgian Parliament as the leader of Saakashvili's United National Movement, serving as an MP from 2004 through 2007. 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.[1][3][4] 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.[5] He was replaced by Dimitry Shashkin. As announced by the Prime Minister, the reason for quitting the government position was due to Gvaramia's plans to continue his education abroad.[6] On 19 December 2012, the investigations department of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia announced that Nika Gvaramia was arrested due to alleged corruption.[7] But, he was released soon after due to lack of proof.[8]

On the 16th of May, 2022 Gvaramia was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on charges of abuse of power and embezzlement while serving as director of another broadcaster, he was also ordered to pay a fine of 50,000 Lari (US$16,670).[9] The conviction was upheld by the Tbilisi Court of Appeals in November 2022.

On 22 June, 2023, Gvaramia was pardoned by Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.[10]

Personal life

Gvaramia is married and has three children.

See also

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Messenger Online. Cabinet Profiles". Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  3. "Cabinet Wins Confidence Vote". Civil Georgia. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  4. "New Cabinet Named". Civil Georgia. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  5. "The carousel starts its turn as education minister quits". Georgian International Media Centre. 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  6. "Staff Changes in the Government". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  7. civil.ge - Ex-minister arrested
  8. "Გვარამია, ხეთაგური და სხვები გირაოთი გაათავისუფლეს".
  9. "Georgian pro-opposition journalist Nika Gvaramia sentenced to 3.5 years in prison". 20 May 2022.
  10. "Georgian President pardons Nika Gvaramia". 23 June 2023.
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