President pardons 226 prisoners, including protesters detained during various rallies

President Mikheil Kavelashvili has pardoned 226 people in connection with the Mariamoba holiday, including several individuals who were detained during protests at different times.

Those pardoned include Saba Jikia, Pridon Bubuteishvili, Simon Makaradze, Davit Khomeriki, Guram Khutashvili, Daniel Mumladze, Avtandil Topchishvili and Tornike Mchedlishvili.

The 20-year-old Saba Jikia, for example, was arrested in December 2024 during a pro-European protest and was later sentenced to four years and six months in prison on charges of attacking a police officer. Bubuteishvili was serving a five-year sentence following his arrest during protests against the so-called foreign agents law in May 2024.

Kavelashvili pardoned 217 people serving prison sentences and six people serving non-custodial sentences, while the convictions of three people were expunged. The Presidential Administration said the decision was based on the principles of humanism and state interests.