Head, several members of President’s Pardon Commission quit
Zviad Koridze, former journalist, became the head of the Pardon Commission in 2014. Photo:President’s press office.
Tweet 
Share
Head of the President’s Pardon Commission Zviad Koridze has left the post and several members of the commission, who served in the role under former President Giorgi Margvelashvili, did so.
Koridze stated today that he has already submitted a request on resignation, so did the head of the Transparency International Georgia NGO Eka Gigauri and another member of the commission Basa Janikashvili, Koridze stated.
Janikashvili said that a “new president means new members of the commission” and that is why he left the position.
Gigauri stated that she decided to quit at the final meeting of the commission under Margvelashvili is November.
The President’s Pardon Commission is composed of 11 individuals, mainly lawyers from the civil sector, public figures, the Public Defender and a spiritual representative from Georgia’s Patriarchate.
The group must discuss all cases sent to the Pardon Commission by inmates or their families and decide which prisoners they believe deserve to be pardoned. The list then is sent to the president.
New President Salome Zurabishvili stated a couple of days ago that the composition of the commission will be renewed.
The First female President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has issued her first pardon decree and has pardoned three female inmates.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, whose presidential term expires this week, has pardoned 57 convicts, head of the President’s Pardon Commission Zviad Koridze stated today.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili pardoned 831 prisoners in 2017. Out of the pardoned people 539 were released immediately, while the remaining 291 saw their sentence terms commuted.
154 inmates walk free, 72 have prison terms reduced
More than 150 inmates will spend the hot days of August, and the rest of their lives, with their families and loved one following their release from prison after the President’s pardon today.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has pardoned 19convicts for the Easter holiday, the head of the President’s Administration Lasha Zhvania stated.
Eight prisoners left the penitentiary facilities immediately on May 24. The other four, including a female, were on probation and have been released from all restrictions.