President Zourabichvili clarifies she never refused to pardon Saakashvili

15:09, 14.12.2023

“I have not refused to pardon Mikheil Saakashvili [Georgia’s jailed ex-President]. I do not comment on pardons unless I explicitly state that I will pardon someone,” said the Georgian President, Salome Zourabichvili, in an interview with RFE/RL.

President responded to the question of whether she had rejected to pardon former President Saakashvili.

“This is not related to the fact that he played a huge role in setting Georgia on this path. Not only Saakashvili but also Shevardnadze [late former Georgia’s President] played a significant role. He was the first to open the gate. Zurab Zhvania, [late former Georgia’s PM] whose 60th birthday was celebrated a few days ago, played the key role. Everyone remembers he was the first to declare: ‘I am Georgian; therefore, I am European.’

All these individuals, governments, and administrations have played their roles. Unfortunately, governments in Georgia behave autocratically sometimes,” stated Zourabichvili.

By - Tamar Tabatadze

Politics

Mikheil Saakashvili

Salome Zourabichvili