The President of Georgia has pardoned 226 prisoners on the occasion of the Mariamoba (Dormition of the Mother of God) holiday.
“Elchi” reports that, according to the head of state’s administration, the pardon applies to 217 people sentenced to imprisonment and six people serving non-custodial sentences, while the convictions of three individuals have been expunged.
The statement notes that the exercise of exceptional constitutional powers by the President of Georgia is based on the principle of humanism and state interests.
In 2019, the fifth President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, changed the pardon procedure. The Pardon Commission was abolished, and since then, case materials regarding convicts are prepared by the relevant department of the Presidential Administration for submission to the head of state.
When making a decision, the President must consider the convict’s personality, the motive and circumstances of the crime, health status, family situation, age, time served, behavior, admission of guilt, as well as the position of the victim and other relevant factors.
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