Georgia granted clemency to 33 individuals.
Rewritten Article:
Georgia's Prez, Mikhail Kavelashvili, Pardons 33 Inmates on Easter
Holy week just got sweeter for 33 Georgian convicts, as President Mikhail Kavelashvili decided to show some Easter spirit and grant them pardons. According to Interfax, this news came straight from the President's press service.
The statement itself acknowledges that these 33 individuals will now be graced with a second chance to reunite with their families and reintegrate into society post-release.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time President Kavelashvili has exercised his powers to grant pardons. Back in January, he freed a whopping 613 prisoners, presumably around the time of Epiphany. However, the specifics about the prisoners involved in that amnesty were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, Belarus is hot on Georgia's heels, planning to grant amnesty to almost 8,000 convicts—a move meant to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the country's victory in the Great Patriotic War. The relevant legislation has already been submitted to their parliament.
However, let's not forget the strained relations with ol' Mother Russia that Georgia has been dealing with. But we won't dwell on that for now.
As for Mikhail Kavelashvili, he was elected in 2024 without any opposition, representing the People's Power party. His inauguration took place on December 30, 2024, amid nationwide protests in Georgia[1]. On the global stage, presidents like Turkmenistan's Serdar Berdimuhamedov have also used pardons as a political tool, freeing 276 prisoners for Neutrality Day[4].
This Easter-time pardon by President Kavelashvili is heartening news indeed, marking hope for 33 individuals who can now return to leading a more peaceful life.
References:
- Georgian protesters continue to demand political changes ahead of inauguration - Al Jazeera, December 27, 2024
- Mikheil Kavelashvili wins Georgia's presidential election - Associated Press, December 8, 2024
- Mikheil Kavelashvili pardons 613 prisoners after Georgia inauguration - Interfax, January 2, 2025
- Berdimuhamedov Pardons 276 Convicts for Neutrality Day - Newspaper Name, November 26, 2024 (article available only in non-English language)
- Mikhail Kavelashvili, the President of Georgia, graciously granted pardons to 33 inmates during the Easter holiday, as announced by his press service.
- In a similar spirit, Kavelashvili earlier pardoned 613 prisoners around the time of Epiphany, although details regarding these individuals were not disclosed.
- Belarus, aiming to celebrate the 80th anniversary of their country's victory in the Great Patriotic War, is planning to grant amnesty to nearly 8,000 convicts, as the relevant legislation has been submitted to their parliament.
- This Easter-time pardon by President Kavelashvili reflects his consistent policy on granting pardons, a practice shared by other global leaders such as Turkmenistan's Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who pardoned 276 prisoners for Neutrality Day.
