Political analysts treat pardoning of Okruashvili and Ugulava as attempt to pacify opposition

On May 15, the Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili, signed a decree pardoning two convicted leaders of oppositional parties – Irakli Okruashvili, the founder of the "Victorious Georgia" Party, and Giorgi Ugulava, the Secretary General of the "European Georgia" Party. The president's decree was the best option, in which the opposition's demands were fulfilled, while the ruling party has "retained its image", the political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the release of political prisoners was one of the conditions in the agreement on changing the system of parliamentary elections in Georgia, reached at the meeting with the participation of foreign diplomats.

At a briefing held after signing the decree, Ms Zurabishvili explained that the pardoning does not mean that the oppositionists are acquitted – they remain in the status of offenders, but are exempted from punishment.

The president's pardoning of Okruashvili and Ugulava is the best option, in which the opposition's demands are satisfied, and the image of the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party is preserved, said Valery Chechelashvili, the head of the "Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies".

Zaal Andjaparidze, the programme coordinator at the International Centre for Conflicts and Negotiations, did not rule out that the pardoning decision in relation to Ugulava and Okruashvili could be made under pressure of the international community.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 16, 2020 at 02:20 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.