Georgia’s President pardons 280 prisoners

Almost 300 prisoners serving time in Georgian prisons will walk free this afternoon.

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili today signed a pardon decree for 280 inmates, head of the presidential administration Davit Pataraia announced.

Chairman of the Parole Commission Zviad Koridze said there were eight females and 10 minors among those who were pardoned.

He said the pardoned inmates will leave the various prison facilities later today.

"The Presidential decree has been handed over to the relevant agencies and if the Ministry of Corrections implements the President's decree as rapidly as it has done in the past, all convicts who have been pardoned by the President will be released at the end of the day," Koridze said.

The Parole Commission considered 2,743 cases before it came to the conclusion to pardon 280 inmates.

In April, President Margvelashili pardoned 95 prisoners as part of this year’s Easter celebrations.

In December he ordered the release of 288 prisoners to coincide with Christmas and New Year.