Georgia’s president says he pardons opposition leaders ahead of local elections

Georgia’s President Mikheil Kavelashvili has pardoned Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leaders of the opposition party Strong Georgia – Lelo.

In his statement on Friday, Kavelashvili said the move was made to ensure that no one could claim the upcoming local elections on October 4 were held under conditions of limited competition.

The two men, founders of the influential financial group TBC and later political figures, had been serving prison sentences for rejecting a parliamentary commission probing alleged crimes under the previous United National Movement government. Their party, along with ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia, is among those recently registered to contest the elections.

“Although elections would still be competitive even with their imprisonment, I made the decision to pardon them so that no one is left with grounds to say otherwise,” the president said.

He added that pardons should not be seen as immunity for politicians who break the law and recalled that both Khazaradze and Japaridze had initially rejected his earlier offer of clemency.

“I hope they will continue their political activity with respect for the law,” Kavelashvili said, urging all political parties to help ensure the elections take place in a peaceful and healthy environment.