EU notes negative consequences of Giga Ugulava's verdict

After the verdict had been pronounced to Gigi Ugulava, one of the leaders of the "European Georgia" Party, the EU External Action Service (EEAS) reminded the Georgian authorities of the independence of the judiciary and the right to a fair trial. The opposition rejected the calls of the "Georgian Dream" to resume a dialogue interrupted after the arrest of Gigi Ugulava.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 28, 2018, the court sentenced oppositionist Gigi Ugulava, the former mayor of Tbilisi, to one year and three months of imprisonment in a case on embezzlement of about 20 million USD dollars, but found the sentence served. On February 10, 2020, the Supreme Court (SC) extended the term of imprisonment up to three years and two months. After that, the Georgian opposition refused to negotiate with the authorities, since their leaders considered the verdict politically motivated. The board of the Supreme Court of Georgia was biased, since it was headed by Shalva Tadumadze, who used to be the General Prosecutor of Georgia during the investigation, NGOs stated.

The EEAS has expressed its concern over the verdict pronounced against Gigi Ugulava. Klára Dobrev, Vice-president of the European Parliament, called on Georgian authorities and the opposition for dialogue.

The "Georgian Dream" Party is not interested in real negotiations, while it needs them only for demonstration to the country's international partners, believes Akaki Bobokhidze, a member of parliament from the "European Georgia" Party.