President eases pardon process for non-violent crimes

The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has eased pardon procedures for inmates who have been sentenced for non-violent crimes.

The rule will not affect inmates sentenced for the sale, possession or purchase of drugs and psychotropic substances in large quantities. 

The Pardon Commission, acting under the president of Georgia, will also discuss property crimes, civil offences and economic crimes which were committed without violence.

The criteria for the review of pardoning non-violent and other crimes are as follows:

• If an individual was sentenced for violating only one article, and the term given is  less than five years, the commission can discuss the case after the inmate has served one-third of the sentence.
• Those sentenced for violating more than two articles and his/her prison perm exceeds five years must have served at least half of their sentence before the commission can discuss the inmate’s case for a pardon. 
• If an individual committed a crime whilst serving parole or was previously released on amnesty, he/she must have served 2/3 of the term of their prison sentence before the case can be discussed by the commission. 

The president is the only authorized official in Georgia who can pardon prisoners.

The Pardon Commission is tasked to discuss all cases sent to them by inmates or their families and to decide which prisoners they believe deserve to be pardoned. The list then is sent to the president.

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