President pardons 170 prisoners
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, July 7
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has issued an act of pardoning, according to which he granted amnesty to 170 inmates.
According to the head of the Pardoning Commission, Zviad Koridze, there are nine women and several young offenders among those pardoned.
“A total of 120 out of 170 inmates were released immediately, while the sentences of another 50 will be reduced,” stated Koridze.
The head of the Pardoning Commission stated that the President believed these amnestied inmates should have the opportunity to start new lives.
Koridze said the decision was made during the Pardoning Commission’s February session and a total of 1073 cases were discussed.
This is the third wave of pardoning by the President this year.
President Margvelashvili previously pardoned 157 inmates on March 3 2017.
The President is the only person authorized to pardon inmates in Georgia. He makes the final decision on which inmates can be pardoned after discussions with the President’s Pardon Commission.
The President’s Pardon Commission is composed of ten people, including Koridze. The Commission members are mainly lawyers from the civil sector, public figures, the Public Defender and a representative from Georgia’s Patriarchate.
The Commission discusses all cases sent to the Pardon Commission by inmates or their families and decides which prisoners they believe deserve to be pardoned. The list is then sent to the President for approval.
