Georgian President will pardon activist, sentenced to prison for throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers in 2023
"I reached this decision [pardoning Grigoriadis] independently today at 10:00 am. My conscience guided me to conclude that this young man should not face a nine-year sentence”, Zourabichvili noted in her announcement to the media, adding the pardon would be issued after following all formal procedures. Photo via Presidential Administration
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday said she would pardon Lazare Grigoriadis, a 21-year-old activist who was sentenced to nine years in prison for throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at police officers and setting fire to a police vehicle during March 2023 protests in Tbilisi against a proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence.
I reached this decision [pardoning Grigoriadis] independently today at 10:00 am. My conscience guided me to conclude that this young man should not face a nine-year sentence”, Zourabichvili noted in her announcement to the media, adding the pardon would be issued after following all formal procedures.
Tbilisi City Court Judge Zviad Sharadze announced the sentencing in the highly publicised case earlier on Friday.
Lazare Grigoriadis, a 21-year-old activist who was charged with throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at police officers and setting fire to a police vehicle during March 2023 protests in Tbilisi against a proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Monday rejected claims of an individual arrested for assaulting police during last month’s protests in Tbilisi against the bill on transparency of foreign influence having had his hair shaven against his will and denied access to his legal team.
The Georgian Interior Ministry on Friday said 58 law enforcement officers had received “various injuries” while ensuring safety during the rallies in central Tbilisi on Tuesday and Wednesday that protested the Parliament’s discussion of the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday challenged Salome Samadashvili, an MP for the opposition Lelo party, on her supportive comments about Lazare Grigoriadis, the protester arrested for alleged assault on law enforcement officers during last month's public rallies in Tbilisi, by asking her if she would "thank" the latter if it was proven by courts that he "poured gasoline on and set another person on fire".