President Margvelashvili: There are no political prisoners in Georgia

Georgia has overhauled its justice system and the effects are now evident, believes Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili while speaking to Georgian diaspora in Washington, United States (US) today.

The Georgian official met the local emigrants on the sideline to his official duties within the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), being held in New York.

President Giorgi Margvelashvili with Georgian diaspora in Washington, US. Photo by the President's webpage. 

I trust the Georgian court and our justice system,” said Margvelashvili in response to a question posed by one of the Georgian emigrants, and he stressed positive moves were being taken in the country’s court system. 

Parliament confirmed the chairperson of the Supreme Court of Georgia offered by me, as well as two members of the Supreme Court. I believe that the people will be initiators of such reforms in the court system that will ensure stability in the country.” 

However, there are some questions to the Georgian court and the questions should be answered by the court itself,” the President added. 

Margvelashvili also emphasised "there were no political prisoners in the country” but there were several inmates that had or have a political past. 

If there are some questions involving the cases of people with a political past, I believe that the questions will be answered inside the court during a very transparent process where everyone will have an ability to speak their views,” Margvelahsvili stressed. 

When asked whether he intended to pardon Georgian ex-officials, Margvelashvili said the pardoning process was "a human act” and had nothing to do with political attitudes. 

On another note the President said he planned to remain in active politics and serve the country’s best interests inside Georgia and at all international platforms he attended. Continuing this notion Margvelashvili said Georgia diaspora could also do their bit to serve the state interests, especially in the fields of business and economy. 

However he underscored that the Georgian Government should also meet the demands of the people living abroad to get them interested in returning back to their homeland. 

President Margvelashvili left for the US on September 27 and is due to return to Georgia tomorrow. While abroad he has made several speeches, held important meetings and met high-ranking foreign officials in the framework of the UNGA.