Georgian president pardons Ukrainian sailors, ex-president Saakashvili’s bodyguard convicted for illegal border crossing
Batumi City Court had sentenced two Ukrainian sailors, Volodymyr Dyachenko and Yuri Khomich, as well as Mikheil Saakashvili’s former bodyguard Mikheil Baturian to four years in prison on July 14 on charges of illegally crossing the border. They were detained on November 28, 2020. Photo: President's Administration.
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Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili has pardoned Ukrainian sailors and the former bodyguard of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili convicted for illegal border crossing.
Batumi City Court had sentenced two Ukrainian sailors, Volodymyr Dyachenko and Yuri Khomich, as well as Mikheil Saakashvili’s former bodyguard Mikheil Baturian to four years in prison on July 14 on charges of illegally crossing the border.
They were detained on November 28, 2020.
Salome Zurabishvili issued the pardon on July 17, which entered into force on July 19.
This was an implementation of the agreement reached between the presidents of Georgia and Ukraine reached during President Zurabishvili’s official visit to Kyiv”, the President’s Administration told Interpressnews.
The lawyer of the sailors Beka Basilaia told Adjara TV today that Volodymyr Dyachenko and Yuri Khomich were offered to write a pardon request several days ago, though they refused because the sailors considered themselves innocent.
Basilaia says the release is connected with the visit of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Georgia.