Georgian President denies “speculation” on plans to pardon imprisoned former President Saakashvili, TV channel head Gvaramia
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday denied intentions to pardon the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili or the recently imprisoned Director General of Mtavari Arkhi channel Nika Gvaramia. Photo: Presidential Administration
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday denied intentions to pardon the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili or the recently imprisoned Director General of Mtavari Arkhi channel Nika Gvaramia.
“No and never! I will not pardon anyone! Stop speculating!”, Zourabichvili said in a message on social media following rumours she was intending to announce a pardon for either figure on the backdrop of domestic political debate on their imprisonment.
On Saakashvili, the President had previously said she would not issue a pardon in November, stating the former did not meet criteria of a political prisoner or an innocent victim to qualify for a pardon. A part of the local opposition has made repeated demands for Saakashvili’s release.
The speculation on Gvaramia followed a European Parliament resolution, adopted on Thursday, that urged Georgian authorities to “refrain from interfering in media freedom or pursuing politically motivated judicial cases against media owners or representatives”.
The resolution noted the case of Gvaramia, who was sentenced to three years and six months in prison last month for causing financial damage to Rustavi 2 channel through advertising deals between 2015-2019, during his time at the helm of the company.
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili told the Georgian Parliament on Monday she did not plan to consider the issue of pardoning the imprisoned ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was “not in a position to impose political conditions” in return for accepting the Justice Ministry’s offer to transfer him from prison healthcare to a civilian clinic.
Georgian Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze on Monday said the country’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili was receiving “proper treatment” in prison, with “all necessary conditions” created by authorities both for ensuring adequate diet and visitor access to the politician.
Georgia’s imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili is not a political prisoner and should be held accountable for actions during his presidency, Aleko Elisashvili, the Chairperson of the Citizens opposition party, said on Tuesday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the ruling party would “always” appreciate “any statement” by President Salome Zourabichvili that was “based on national interests”.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Thursday pardoned Nika Gvaramia, the imprisoned head of the domestic Mtavari Arkhi channel, who was convicted last year for improper commercial deals in 2015 and 2019 during his time at the helm of the Rustavi 2 channel.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said calls for President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon Nika Gvaramia, the head of the Mtavari Arkhi TV channel, for the benefit of depolarising the domestic political environment meant the authors of the urges should now “take responsibility” for actually ensuring the outcome after the President pardoned the channel founder on Thursday.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will on Tuesday submit her annual report to the Parliament. It will be Zourabichvili’s final report in her capacity, as her Presidential term ends in October.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday told the country’s Parliament a European state could “not be based on anything other than democratic principles”, with protected rights for citizens.