Leaders who the public knows are planning to participate in the elections are rightfully behind bars - I am using my constitutional right and I suggest that they use the opportunity to prove to the voters that they are worthy of winning the elections, - Mikheil Kavelashvili stated when he spoke about the reasons that became the basis for offering the imprisoned opposition leaders the instrument of pardon if they agreed to participate in the elections.

According to him, the reason for the offer was to allow the parties to have the opportunity to fully prepare for the local elections.

"Since, unfortunately for us, my predecessor used this institution to discredit and polarize and violated the Constitution, my first statement from the day of my election was that I would return the institution of the President to the constitutional framework. In principle, for this stage, I have succeeded. The main thing is a state approach to the state, respect, and when you are the head of state, you should be an example for an ordinary citizen that you yourself will be the guarantor of the Constitution and will not violate this law.

Since we are ahead of local elections and there are political parties, which have decided to fully participate in the elections, it is the duty of all responsible institutions to create an appropriate environment for the holding of full elections. The political leaders of those forces, which the society knows are going to participate in the elections, are rightfully behind bars at this stage - they violated the law, but I am using my constitutional right and I suggest that they use this opportunity and prove to their voters, to the society, that they are worthy of winning the elections, that they should not have any disruptions in the election process," Mikheil Kavelashvili said on Rustavi 2.