Bokuchava Criticizes Zourabichvili for Not Pardoning Saakashvili
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, March 17, 2025
Tina Bokuchava, the chairwoman of the Unity - National Movement, criticized 5th President Salome Zourabichvili for not pardoning Mikheil Saakashvili, stating that this decision will have long-term consequences. Bokuchava emphasized that history would judge Zourabichvili harshly for failing to take action and leaving Saakashvili imprisoned "under the influence of Ivanishvili's regime".
"The insurmountable difference between the National Movement and President Zourabichvili will remain that she did not make a decision to pardon President Saakashvili," Bokuchava said. "History will evaluate this as one Western president who did not pardon another Western president, leaving him in captivity under Ivanishvili's Russian regime."
Bokuchava believes that a pardon for Saakashvili would have been a strong statement from Zourabichvili in support of Georgia's Western, pro-European future. However, she acknowledged that while a pardon may not have resulted in Saakashvili's immediate release, it would have shown political clarity in the ongoing struggle between Georgia's European aspirations and Ivanishvili's "Russia-leaning regime".
"In this important civilizational struggle, where on one side is a free, Western, pro-European Georgia and on the other side is Ivanishvili's Russian regime, moral political clarity is very important," Bokuchava explained. "A pardon from Zourabichvili would have been a crucial statement in this regard."
Bokuchava also discussed the need for opposition unity and proposed March 31 as a deadline to see if real collaboration could occur among opposition parties.
"March 31 should be set as a deadline," she stated. "If unity is truly ephemeral and unrealistic, then we should end the false talk and all parties should act within their capabilities."
While Bokuchava expressed disappointment in Zourabichvili's decision, she also reiterated that Saakashvili had asked his supporters and the National Movement to work towards opposition unity. She emphasized that the National Movement is committed to this goal but acknowledged that parties must act based on their own strengths.
"We believe unity is the most effective way to win, but it's a democracy, and everyone has the right to decide their own path," she said. "We're open to coordination with anyone, including Zourabichvili, who shares the same goals."
