Outgoing President pardons another ally

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has pardoned the former head of state owned company who is wanted by the police and was found guilty in his absence together with a recently pardoned former defense minister Bacho Akhalaia, of using excessive force to suppress a 2006 prison uprising in which seven inmates were killed and 22 injured.

Saakashvili also awarded Revaz Charbadze, who is wanted by the police and former head of Delta that oversees the military science-technological center with the Vakhtang Gorgasal's Order Rank I.

The Vakhtang Gorgasal's Order is awarded to individuals who outstandingly contributed to their nation and motherland. Saakashvili handed the award to Charbadzes mother in his vineyard in Kvareli, eastern Georgia, while meeting the students on Tuesday.

"Without hesitating I am signing the document that pardons Charbadze and award him with this order for appreciation of great contribution he made for developing the state military entrepreneurship, Saakashvili said.

Charbadze also received the Presidential Order of Excellence for the protection of motherland and fighting for the unification of the country on April 2012.

During the meeting with students, President Saakashvili also awarded the CEO of Ukrainian state-owned Ukrspetsexport Company, Sergey Bondarchuk, for military assistance of Georgia during 2008 Russia-Georgia war.