President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili has announced he is prepared to pardon jailed opposition leaders—provided they commit to participating in the upcoming local elections scheduled for October 4.
In a Facebook post, Kavelashvili stated:
“As is known, certain leaders from several political parties are currently serving sentences in accordance with Georgian law. In light of this, I invite all convicted politicians to formally submit a request for pardon and confirm their intention to take part in the elections. Should I receive such requests, I will immediately issue a presidential pardon.”
Kavelashvili emphasized the importance of inclusive elections and equal opportunities for all parties to run full campaigns.
“It’s crucial that all political forces are able to engage in the electoral process. This is a matter of democratic principle,” he wrote.
Earlier this year, several high-profile opposition figures—including Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, Zurab Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Givi Targamadze, and former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili—were sentenced to seven or eight months in prison. The charges stemmed from their refusal to appear before a parliamentary commission investigating alleged crimes committed during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili.
The president’s conditional pardon offer is being interpreted as both a gesture of political reconciliation and a strategic move to ensure legitimacy and competitiveness in the upcoming elections. Political analysts say the ball is now in the opposition’s court to respond—and to determine whether this could mark a turning point in Georgia’s polarized political landscape.
