President’s office rejects reports on communication with convict’s brother on alleged pardon

President Salome Zourabichvili’s office on Thursday rejected claims by domestic media on her advisor’s communication with a convict’s brother on his alleged pardon. 

 

Rustavi 2 TV channel earlier this week cited convict Irakli Chelidze’s brother as saying he had communicated with President’s advisor Angi Khutsishvili, claiming the latter had  promised him  to study the case to release the inmate convicted for group violence during protests in 2020 against Namakhvani HPP in Svaneti region of Georgia.

 

The President’s Office said the pardon was Zourabichvili’s “exclusive right” and was not subjected to “any pressure or recommendations”. 

 

 “This decision is entirely the responsibility of the President and none of her employees is involved in the process”, said the President’s office.

 

It added the information was “false” and allegedly aimed at discrediting the President.