Nikoloz Gvaramia ნიკოლოზ გვარამია | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Education and Science | |
| In office October 27, 2008 – December 7, 2009 | |
| President | Mikheil Saakashvili |
| Preceded by | Ghia Nodia |
| Succeeded by | Dimitry Shashkin |
| Minister of Justice of Georgia | |
| In office January 31, 2008 – October 27, 2008 | |
| President | Mikheil Saakashvili |
| Preceded by | Eka Tkeshelashvili |
| Succeeded by | Zurab 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 | June 29, 1976 Sukhumi, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR |
| Children | Sandro Gvaramia |
| Alma mater | Tbilisi State University |
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.
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]
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]
Gvaramia is married and has three children.