Georgian President may have limited pardon power

The Georgian President's pardon power may be limited.

Any act of pardon must proceed from the principle of humanity, but must be within certain limits, Georgian Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili said on Tuesday.

"When a prisoner does not plead guilty, the issue of his pardon must be determined by other criteria as opposed to the one where he admits his guilt and shows remorse," Nanuashvili added.

Head of the Georgian Association of Young Lawyers Kakha Kozhoridze also believes that the president's pardon power needs regulation.

"While amending his own decree, the president said that I can pardon anyone regardless of any criteria and can free anyone when I want," Kozhoridze said. "Today the president enjoys such broad powers. Of course, this needs regulation."

Georgian Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani believes that the president must have the right to pardon any prisoner.

According to Tsulukiani, the procedure must be improved.

The presidential election was held in Georgia on October 27.

Candidate of the ruling coalition Georgian Dream Party, Giorgi Margvelashvili won the election gaining 62.11 per cent of the votes.

The inauguration of the elected president will take place on November 17.


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