20 November 2012, 16:00
Georgia: Pardon Commission recommends releasing about 700 prisoners
In Georgia, members of the Pardon Commission gave positive recommendations for half of examined 1400 cases. This was reported by Elena Tevdoradze, Chair of the Commission. The final number of persons to be pardoned will be defined by the President of the country.
Lists of prisoners, recommended for pardoning, are presented to the President by the State Pardon Commission, Chief Prosecutor's Office and the Georgian Patriarchate.
According to Elena Tevdoradze, the Commission issued recommendations for pardoning to those prisoners, who did not commit murder, were not arrested for selling of drugs, were not serving their sentences for rape, and who were not habitual criminals, the "InterPressNews" reports.
According to the Chair of the Commission, positive recommendations were issued to prisoners, who were convicted under not serious articles and who served a half or more than half of their sentences, the "Georgia Online" reports.
"There are seriously ill people among the prisoners, and I am glad that those people will leave the prisons in the coming days," Elena Tevdoradze said.
In accordance with the Georgian legislation, the Pardon Commission consists of representatives of the legislative and executive branches and of the public, the IA "News-Georgia" reports.
