PM says President’s absence from Police Day event “logical” after pardoning activist sentenced for throwing Molotov cocktails at police

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said the President Salome Zourabichvili’s absence from the Police Day celebration was “absolutely logical” as she had pardoned an activist who was sentenced to nine years in prison for throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at police officers.

In his comments Kobakhidze said Zourabichvili had “no moral right” to be present at the event considering her “absolutely offensive statements” during the past weeks.

Zourabichvili last month signed the act of pardon of Lazare Grigoriadis, an 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.