Prosecutor’s Office releases statement on verdict of Nika Gvaramia, Kakhaber Damenia and Zurab Iashvili.

“The acquittal of Nika Gvaramia of charges other than the Article 220 of the Criminal Code, which deals with abuse of powers.

Similar changes in the qualification of charges against Kakhaber Damenia, the former Financial Director of Rustavi 2, who was found guilty of causing a GEL 6,763,509 in damages to the TV company. The Court had fully shared the former’s evidence in the charges, but rejected the prosecution’s legal qualification, and selected abuse of power in an entrepreneurial organisation under the same Article 220, instead of Article 182 for misappropriation or embezzlement, as requested by the prosecution.

Zurab Iashvili, the Director of Inter Media Plus, was sought for indictment for commercial bribery and forgery in the case, but was acquitted by the Court.

“We would like to remind the public that Nika Gvaramia was accused of embezzling a large amount of property rights belonging to Rustavi 2 broadcasting company, commercial bribery, making and using a forged official document, legalising illegal income and abusing his authority in an entrepreneurial organisation. Kakhaber Damenia was accused of illegally embezzling a large amount of property rights belonging to the broadcasting company Rustavi 2. Zurab Iashvili was accused of commercial bribery and making and using a forged official document.

Details of the case showed Gvaramia signing a deal on behalf of Rustavi 2 with Inter Media Plus on January 16, 2015 to grant the latter company rights to commercial advertising on the channel.

Between January-August 2015, Gvaramia had claimed 90-95% of the total revenue from the sale of the advertising time to Inter Media Plus, leaving the remaining amount to the latter company in exchange for the services rendered”, - reads the statement.

It also says that Inter Media Plus had been due to receive GEL 48,014,847 from the sale of advertising time on Rustavi 2 in 2015, but was paid only GEL 36,467,000, an amount that was GEL 6,763,509 less than the amount paid for similar services in 2014. The disparity pointed to the damage caused to the channel, the statement noted, through “illegal squandering” of the right to request the latter amount from Inter Media Plus.