The leader of the Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia, will leave Rustavi Penitentiary No. 12 on February 12, as his eight-month prison term expires.
Gvaramia was sentenced on July 1, 2025, to eight months in prison for failing to appear before a temporary investigative commission of the Parliament of Georgia. He was charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which concerns failure to comply with a request from a parliamentary investigative commission. Initially, the court imposed bail of 30,000 GEL as a preventive measure. However, after he failed to pay the amount within the timeframe established by law, the court replaced the bail with imprisonment.
Gvaramia did not attend the final court hearing and later presented himself at Rustavi Prison to begin serving his sentence. His case triggered political debate in Georgia, with opposition representatives describing the prosecution as politically motivated, while government officials maintained that the matter concerned compliance with legal obligations toward a parliamentary body.
His release comes amid ongoing political tensions between the ruling party and opposition forces, particularly surrounding issues of parliamentary oversight and institutional accountability. Gvaramia’s departure from prison is expected to attract public and political attention, with supporters likely to gather at the penitentiary facility.
Further comments from Gvaramia and members of the Coalition for Change are anticipated following his release.
Image source: Imedi News
