Georgia's sixth president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, whose legitimacy is not recognized by his predecessor, the opposition, and a significant part of the country's population, addressed convicted politicians with an offer on his Facebook page. He called on them to file a petition for pardon and confirm their desire to participate in the upcoming local government elections, promising to immediately issue a pardon act in this case.
"Exactly three months from now, on October 4, 2025, local government elections will be held, in which the population of Georgia will elect mayors and city assemblies of 64 municipalities. It is important that all political parties registered in accordance with Georgian legislation and expressing a desire to participate in the elections fully participate in these elections. It is also important that all political parties have the opportunity to conduct a full-fledged election campaign.
As the public knows, specific leaders of several political parties are serving sentences in prisons in accordance with Georgian legislation. Given these circumstances, I suggest that all the relevant convicted politicians apply to me with a request for pardon and confirm their desire to participate in the elections with the same statement.
If such a statement is received, I will immediately issue an act of pardoning the relevant convicts,” Kavelashvili wrote.
The reaction of the opposition was immediate. In particular, the General Secretary of the Lelo party, Irakli Kupradze, commenting on the president’s statement at a briefing, stated that “there will be no appeal for pardon to the illegitimate president.”
“We heard an absurd and unsuccessful attempt by the illegitimate president of the Russian regime to trade the freedom of political leaders. Our answer is simple: we are not entering into this trade with the Russian regime. Although I have no opportunity to contact our leaders in prison, due to time, restrictions and the relevant rules that prison institutions use, I, as the General Secretary of Lelo and their friend, know what values Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze live by, what principles and dignity they defend the interests of the Georgian people with and believe in struggle and victory.
I do not agree with them, but I believe that this is 100% the position of Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, I declare: the illegitimate president will not be pardoned. We will show him the way to the Russian ship.
This unsuccessful attempt by Kavelashvili is a demonstration of Ivanishvili's fears, to complicate the opposition's ability to make decisions with moral dilemmas, to fight on all fronts," said Irakli Kupradze.
Let us recall that two leaders of Lelo – Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze – were sentenced to 8 months in prison under the article on “failure to comply with the legal demands of the temporary investigative commission of parliament” (Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia). In addition, the politicians are prohibited from holding public office for a period of 2 years.
Members of the Coalition for Change, in turn, stated that they do not intend to “cooperate with the regime and legitimize it.”
“The regime, through the so-called president, has confirmed that the participation of pro-Western forces in a fake criminal trial called local elections is a way to save the regime and delay changes, and they will make any deal to achieve this. Our position is unchanged – at no stage do we intend to cooperate with the regime and provide it with legitimacy,” the statement says.
Recently, three leaders of the Coalition for Changes – Zurab Japaridze, Nika Melia and Nika Gvaramia – were sentenced to 7 to 8 months in prison for refusing to cooperate with the investigative commission.
A similar position was expressed by the opposition Strategy Agmashenebeli, whose leader – Giorgi Vashadze – was also sentenced to 7 months in prison under the same article.
“Political leaders and prisoners of conscience are held captive by the regime for fighting for freedom and justice. The regime is facing a political crisis. The only way out of this crisis is new parliamentary elections and the release of all prisoners of conscience, and not a pardon from an illegitimate president elected by an illegitimate parliament,” the party’s statement emphasizes.
Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, interpreted Kavelashvili's proposal as a call for the opposition to give up everything they have - "honor, reputation, and conscience" - so that they could be freed "for slavery." The politician drew an analogy with Vladimir Putin's behavior toward the Ukrainian president.
"This is the same logic as Putin has toward Zelensky, surrender to me, and I will take Crimea from you forever, along with Donetsk and Lugansk, and besides, know that I have not changed my main military goal: your destruction!" Zurabishvili was indignant.
