The President has clearly stated that he is ready to pardon individuals who admit their guilt and sincerely repent. We have not heard anything like that from the people you are asking about [those detained during the protests], but we will see - ultimately, it is the President’s decision, said Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, in response to journalists’ questions about the possible pardon of people detained during protests.

According to him, it is up to the President to decide whom to pardon and for what reason.

“The President of Georgia has clearly stated that he is ready to pardon those who acknowledge their crime and sincerely repent. From the people you are asking about [those detained during the protests], we have not heard anything of the sort, but we will see - ultimately, it is the President’s decision. Whether consultations take place or not, in the end it is the President’s decision - whom to pardon and why,” Makhashvili said.

Makhashvili also noted that he has no information on whether any consultations have taken place with Mikheil Kavelashvili on this issue and that he has not participated in any such meetings.

When asked for his personal opinion on whether Mikheil Kavelashvili should pardon those detained during the protests, Makhashvili replied that “his opinion is not relevant.”

“Only the President of Georgia has the exclusive right to decide, based on his own views, whether to pardon a particular person. This is his constitutional right, and whether I criticize him, refrain from criticism, or call on him to do something is absolutely irrelevant,” Levan Makhashvili said.