157 inmates pardoned by president

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has granted a pardon to 157 prisoners.

Of these, 93 inmates will be released from prison today while the remaining 64 have had their prison terms commuted.

The news was announced by head of the President’s Pardon Commission Zviad Koridze at a special press conference this afternoon.

Koridze also mentioned that there are six female prisoners and one minor among those who will be released today.

He added the Pardon Commission had reviewed 890 cases in between February 16-21.

Presidential pardon in Georgia

The president is the only person authorised to pardon inmates in Georgia. Decisions to pardon prisoners are based off discussions and recommendations made by the Presidential Pardon Commission.

The Presidential Pardon Commission is composed of ten people including Koridze. The Commission members are mainly lawyers from the civil sector, public figures, the Public Defender and a spiritual representative from the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate.

The group must discuss all cases sent to the Pardon Commission by inmates or their families and decide which prisoners they believe deserved to be pardoned. The list then is sent to the President.

The President makes the final decision to pardon inmates or not.

The last pardon was made in December of 2016, when 175 individuals were pardoned. Of these, 122 were released and 52 received commuted sentences.