02 October 2021, 08:20
Zurabishvili rules out Saakashvili's pardoning
The Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili, is not going to pardon the third president of the country, Mikheil (Mikhail) Saakashvili. She stressed that "all are equal before the law."
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 1, Mikhail Saakashvili announced that he had returned to Georgia. On the same day, law enforcers detained him and took him to the Rustavi Prison.
In Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili was sentenced in absentia to three years of imprisonment in a case on abuse of power when pardoning those convicted for the murder of businessman Sandro Girgvliani and to six years of imprisonment in a case on the 2005 beating of MP Valery Gelashvili. The former president of Georgia also faces other charges.
All should be equal before the law; therefore, Saakashvili will not be pardoned, Salome Zurabishvili has stated in her comment on Saakashvili's detention. "It is unpleasant for the president of the country when the former president is arrested in front of cameras. However, this is required by the rule of law; and all the people are equal before the law," the "Formula News" TV Company has quoted her as saying.
During his presidency, Saakashvili violated human rights, Salome Zurabishvili has stressed. "I'll never forget the eyes of Irina Yenukidze and all people who are waiting for justice and could not be present on this day. Because I am committed to the spirit of resistance to the regime that had trampled on human rights, free business and the rule of law," the TV Company has quoted Ms President on its website.
The detention of Saakashvili has helped to avoid big riots, said Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister. "We've avoided another very big and serious provocation in our country, which could have resulted in a very big dispute," the "Report" has quoted him as saying.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 1, 2021 at 10:31 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: The Caucasian Knot
