Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the authorities are prepared to consider pardoning those detained during anti-government protests only if the convicts admit guilt and express remorse, as repentance is of fundamental importance—it will help prevent further attempts at a violent change of power in Georgia.
“If specific prisoners express remorse for the crimes committed, we will have a corresponding reaction. However, remorse and repentance are fundamentally important—this is our simple position,” the politician noted.
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Kobakhidze emphasized that courts make decisions strictly within the framework of the law, whereas a pardon is a political decision in which the sixth president of Georgia can take various circumstances into account.
The head of government added that the authorities consider punishment necessary to prevent new attempts at a “violent revolution.” He once again recalled previous protest events, stating that the state’s insufficient reaction in the past allegedly encouraged new attempts at destabilization.
“We do not need anyone’s apologies. Repentance is important for prevention: when a person shows society that they regret the crime committed, it has a preventive effect. Our task is to ensure that no one is tempted to attempt a coup in the country by violent means. For this, punishment is important,” Irakli Kobakhidze concluded.
As a reminder, following the election of the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, several representatives of the Georgian Patriarchate stated that Shio III would likely raise the issue of pardoning participants of pro-European protests with the authorities.
New Patriarch Shio III May Raise the Issue of Releasing Detainees