Prepared by Messenger Staff
Mikheil Kavelashvili Pardons 613 Convicted Individuals Amid Legitimacy Dispute
Mikheil Kavelashvili, the president elected by the Georgian Dream party, has pardoned 613 convicted individuals in connection with the Epiphany holiday. This decision was announced on Kavelashvili's Facebook page.
Kavelashvili's pardon has sparked controversy due to the ongoing legitimacy dispute surrounding his presidency. His legitimacy is not recognized by Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, opposition parties, many in Georgian society, several non-governmental organizations, and a significant portion of the international community.
In the published statement, Kavelashvili emphasized that the pardon was based on the exclusive powers granted to him by the Georgian Constitution, and he highlighted the act as being in the interest of humanism and state interest. "With shown humane attitude, pardoned persons were given the opportunity to return to their families and become full-fledged members of society," he wrote.
However, the statement did not provide specifics on which crimes or legal articles were covered by the pardon.
Public Defender Investigates Detention of Nine Individuals
The Office of the Public Defender has issued a statement addressing the detention of nine individuals under administrative procedures on January 18. Representatives from the Public Defender's office visited the detainees, some of whom alleged verbal abuse and unethical behavior by the police. Two detainees also reported potential excessive force and improper treatment.
In response, the Public Defender has referred the cases to the Special Investigation Service for further legal action and pledged to pursue appropriate measures regarding other reported rights violations.
The statement also highlighted concerns over regulations banning the wearing of face masks, which some detainees cited as a reason for their arrests. The Public Defender noted that while similar restrictions exist in some Western countries, international human rights standards and European Court of Human Rights practices emphasize that such bans must not be absolute or blanket measures.
The office reiterated the importance of balancing freedom of expression with security interests, calling for a more nuanced approach in legislation to ensure human rights are upheld.
