You have your president, ask her and maybe she will pardon those prisoners - those people who are imprisoned today and whom you call "prisoners of conscience" who have committed a specific crime - I cannot and will not answer that I will pardon anyone today, - Mikheil Kavelashvili told journalists while answering a question regarding the pardon of citizens detained during the protests.

“You have your president, ask her and maybe she will pardon those prisoners. I recognize [my legitimacy]. With this attitude, the way you work in the Georgian media space, you are deceiving society, as if someone is not recognized - at this time you have all the leverage to act according to the legislation adopted by the current government and you have no other way.

Regarding pardons, the public knows very well that I am gradually implementing pardons. The next pardon will probably be for an epiphany.

As for those people who are currently imprisoned and whom you call “prisoners of conscience,” they have committed a specific crime. There is also a political motive, which is why these people were deceived, are still in the process of being deceived, they do not realize it and cannot analyze it.

Deceived people, whom you brought out because of the transparency law and because of that you wanted to make a revolution in the country. The new [US] administration today itself abolished the organizations that fed the non-governmental organizations, because of which you wanted to organize a revolution in Georgia. The young people who are deceived and you take [to the rally] every day, and the people who are in prison, should understand this. Let them admit their mistakes and we will observe the events accordingly. I cannot and will not give you an answer that I will pardon anyone today," Kavelashvili told the journalist.

In addition, Kavelashvili answered a question regarding the release of political prisoners in Belarus and also the question, "What is the difference between Georgia and Belarus, while the issue of "political prisoners" is on the agenda of international discussion in both countries."

According to him, there are many differences between the two countries.

"I can name many differences between Georgia and Belarus: nature, air, temperature, political views, and there are many differences. How is there no difference politically? - It is a presidential country, we are a parliamentary one. Many things are different. You are asking questions of the forces that gave the order... You yourself drew a parallel that we are Belarus - you did not say this, but you indicated that the situation is the same as in Belarus, they were forced or negotiated to release the prisoners. I don't think we are in the same situation," Kavelashvili told the journalist.