Nika Gvaramia, leader of the Coalition for Change, has been sentenced to imprisonment as a preventive measure.

The decision was made by Judge Jvabe Nachkebia of the Tbilisi City Court.

At today’s hearing, the Prosecutor’s Office submitted a motion to replace the previously imposed preventive measure - a bail of GEL 30,000 - with imprisonment. The reason for the motion was Gvaramia’s failure to pay the bail.

Nika Gvaramia had been summoned to appear before Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission to give a statement but failed to do so. As a result, he has been charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia [failure to comply with the request of a parliamentary investigative commission]. Article is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 1 year, and/or disqualification from holding office or pursuing certain activities for up to 3 years.

As the court hearing was ongoing, Nika Gvaramia himself arrived at the Rustavi penitentiary, certain that he would be sent there.