We have listened, we have understood, and we are aware - Tsulukiani on President's decision not to pardon Rurua
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According to Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani, the President is independent in her decisions. This is how she assessed the statement of Salome Zurabishvili, where the President stated that she wouldn't pardon prisoner Giorgi Rurua.
She had a very principled tone and position in her statement and this is her decision, I would like to once again emphasize the obvious constitutional reality, which means that the President of Georgia is independent in his/her decisions regarding pardon and any other position or decision. I have no idea what I can comment in my statement, only that have listened, we have understood, and we are aware, said Thea Tsulukiani.
According to Tsulukiani, there are no political prisoners in Georgia today.
Yesterday, on July 31, the President stated that she wouldn't pardon Giorgi Rurua and no one would be able to influence her. This decision was soon followed by assessments of international partners:
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Jim Risch explicitly stated that President should pardon Rurua, while Ambassador Kelly Degnan noted that it was the President's prerogative to pardon him.
Mike Pompeo warned you... but the politicization of the court continues - this is how Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Co-Chairman, MEP Andrius Kubilius, reacted to Giorgi Rurua's verdict.
"Friends of Georgia believe that the arrest and sentence imposed on media owner Giorgi Rurua is of a political character," writes European Parliament member Anna Fotyga on Twitter.
Recall that Giorgi Rurua was arrested on November 18, 2019. The investigation accused him of illegal purchase and possession of firearms, but none of the evidence in the case has confirmed the version of the prosecutor. The Rurua defence has repeatedly requested his release over the course of several months of trial, although the court has not issued a decision.
On 30 July 2020, Judge Valerian Bugianishvili sentenced Giorgi Rurua to four years' imprisonment. Following the 8 March agreement and repeated appeals from Western partners, President Salome Zurabishvili pardoned detained opposition leaders Giga Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili on 15 May 2020.Following the 8 March agreement and repeated calls from Western partners, President Salome Zurabishvili pardoned political prisoners Giga Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili on 15 May 2020.
