The member of the opposition United National Movement party, Tina Bokuchava, expressed hope that President Zurabishvili would use her constitutional discretionary powers to pardon former President Mikheil Saakashvili, “thus end historical injustice”.

“Depolarization and normalization of the political process are impossible when a person who has such a great contribution to the European future of our country is in a political, unfair, illegal captivity. President Zourabishvili can put an end to it,” she stated, emphasizing that Saakashvili’s release would be perceived as a national and European move, contributing to Georgia’s European integration.

“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.