President Zourabichvili faces backlash after pardoning a convicted police killer
By Inga Kakulia
Friday, August 30
President Salome Zourabichvili has pardoned 34 convicts in connection with the celebration of St. Mariam’s day, including one minor and eight women. But now the president is facing some backlash since one of the pardoned was a killer of the policeman.
The case concerns an incident that happened December 27, 2014, at a nightclub in Batumi where 22-year-old police officer Tarash Mukbanian was killed. According to the investigation, Ramaz Devadze, who was in a sober state, had an argument with him. Mukbanian died at the scene. Ramaz Devadze was sentenced to 12 years in prison on September 18, 2015.
Tamar Khulordava, the chairperson of the Committee on European Integration of the Parliament of Georgia, said that she did not understand the President's decision to pardon convict Ramaz Devadze.
“You know that pardoning prisoners is the president's prerogative. It is his constitutional right to make such a decision. To me, that decision is incomprehensible. I cannot comment more on this,” noted Khulordava.
The members of the opposition also responded to the decision. According to Irma Nadirashvili, a member of the European Georgia party, such a decision is a threat to the state, as it involves pardoning a convicted murderer of a police officer. Nadirashvili said that it deprives law enforcement of their motivation, and of citizens' sense of security.
“Salome Zourabichvili reiterated that she is an irresponsible person when a convicted murderer of a police officer spent four years instead of 12 and the president decided to pardon him… Mr. Nakani, who is the head of the Special Forces, an owner of many state awards who defended the territorial integrity of our country, is under attack and denied of being pardoned. By this decision, President Salome Zourabichvili reiterated that she is the president of thieves,” said Nadirashvili,
Roman Gotsiridze, a member of the United Nations Movement, commented on the president’s decision as well. “This is a highly scandalous affair, and yet the president has released a criminal, a killer of the police officer. How could she (the president) not ask what he has done?! The goal is always one in Georgia, it is to maintain power. It is possible that there is some kind of deal with the people behind these criminals. Otherwise, this decision of Salome Zourabichvili is devoid of any logic," stated Gotsiridze.
Meanwhile, Paata Shavadze, a lawyer for the convicted murderer of the police officer, Paata Shavadze, he is completely unaware of the agitation caused by the release of his client.
“Although all three instances of the court found Ramaz Devadze guilty, we did not agree with that decision at the time, nor do we now agree. I am very surprised by the backlash. About why the President pardoned Devadze since he was a convicted criminal.
"Yes, the President pardons the convicts who are guilty. That is the essence of this act. In fact, my client was not guilty of premeditated murder, but since the deceased was a police officer and this is a sensitive subject, he was sentenced to deliberate murder. It was a case of negligent homicide, we justified it, but nobody took it into account. Devadze did not want to kill him,” said the lawyer.
