I Never Refused to Pardon Saakashvili – Salome Zourabichvili

The Russian law of the Georgian Dream party threatens independent media and civil society organizations and hinders Georgia from joining the European Union.

Russian law establishes Putin's rules in Georgia, which has eliminated free speech in Russia.

When you are oppressed, there will be no one to cover your problem and stand by you.

Georgian News will resist the Russian intention of the Georgian Dream to the end!

“I did not decline; I don’t make comments on pardon unless I’m saying I am pardoning someone,” stated Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili in an interview with Radio Liberty.

“That is not related to the fact that he has a huge role in launching the Georgian path [towards European integration], and not only himself, but Shevadnadze had a huge role as well; He was the first one to open the gate. Also, the late Zurab Zhvania, whose 60th birthday was celebrated a few days ago, had an immense role. Everybody remembers that he was the first to say ‘I am Georgian, therefore European’. All of these persons, all of these governments and administrations had their role,” said Zourabichvili.

Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested on October 1, 2021, in Tbilisi. A few hours later, Zourabichvili pledged that she would never pardon Saakashvili.

“Many are asking today: is the president going to pardon him? The answer is a resounding – no and never! Because I will never forget Irina Enukidze’s eyes, along with many others who hopelessly awaited justice they never got,” explained the President.

On November 3, 2021, Salome Zourabichvili reiterated once again that her position on Saakashvili pardoning remains unchanged.

Mikheil Saakashvili was sentenced to 6 years in prison for wrongfully pardoning those convicted in the cases of beating MP Valery Gelashvili and Sandro Girgvliani murder.

Due to health decline, Saakashvili has been placed in the Vivamed clinic, a contractor of the Special Penitentiary Service since May 12, 2022.

The third president of Georgia is also charged with border trespassing, raiding the Imedi TV and November 7 protest, illegally seizing and appropriating Patarkatsishvili’s property, and embezzling 9,024,367 GEL belonging to the Special State Protection Service. The former president pleads not guilty and says that he is politically persecuted and a prisoner of Putin.

Georgian News
Georgian News
is an independent socio-political online edition. The website is operated by the Information Resources Network (IRN).