Pardoning is an assessment of circumstances and situation by a person, who can be a president at the same time and whose mistake cannot be excluded either – Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said when explaining the motive for pardoning the person convicted of murdering Davit Otkhmezuri, a police officer.

Salome Zurabishvili made a statement for the media during the news briefing, which was to be held by President’s Parliamentary Secretary Dimitri Gabunia.

“You didn’t expect me, but I’m here. I feel that I need to address the public because I am concerned that society is disturbed about my decisions. That’s why I made my first statement recently and now I am directly addressing you and the public.

I want to say that pardoning is not what some people think about the act. This is not an acquittal of anyone or a revision of the court’s decision. It is some sort of the fourth branch of the government that has some experience above the court. This is a subjective, personal presidential decision – under his/her responsibility. This is an assessment of circumstances and situation by a person, who can be a president at the same time and whose mistake cannot be excluded either or different assessment of these circumstances by different people,” President said.

Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili pardoned Aslan Bezhanidze, a person convicted for the murder committed in 2004. Bezhanidze was detained in 2016. He was wanted for 12 years. Bezhanidze was acquitted based on the decisions of Tbilisi City and Appeals Court. The Supreme Court found Bezhanidze guilty and imposed imprisonment with a term of 6 years and 9 months.

Bezhanidze was released from the penitentiary facility on August 28, Virgin Mary Day. President pardoned 34 prisoners in connection with Virgin Mary Day including a convict charged for the murder of a police officer.