Ruling party claims president won’t pardon Saakashvili

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party says that there are ‘no expectations that President Salome Zurabishvili may pardon ex-President Saakashvili who has plans to arrive in Georgia for the October 2 municipal elections. 

 

The GD says that Saakashvili will be held accountable if he really returns. 

 

Head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia says that ‘as it seems’ the GD ‘no longer trusts’ Zurabishvili and they allow the possibility she may pardon Saakashvili for abuse of authority and other charges. 

 

Fellow member of the party Roman Gotsiridze says that if Saakashvili is arrested after his return, the Georgian people and the international community will allow his release. 

 

Saakashvili left Georgia in 2013 and is currently  holding an official post in Ukraine as a citizen of Ukraine. 

 

President Salome Zurabishvili, who was elected to the post with the support of the GD back in 2018, has recently criticized the government for not taking the EU loan and stated that Georgia needs a coalition government.