2020-05-19
It is extremely difficult for me when a person who stormed the Parliament on the 20th of June, who took part in the storming of the Parliament, or a person who stole 50 million from the budget somehow deserve some sort of a pardon just because they are politicians, as if they were politicians, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia told journalists in response to a question regarding the pardon of Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili.
According to the head of the government, the government is fully mobilized, first and foremost, to defeat COVID-19, and then to restore the country's economy and also to hold elections in a peaceful and calm environment.
"This is very difficult for me and I understand the anger of our citizens who are watching a privileged caste of politicians who were pardoned for such grave, specific, criminal offenses just because they assumed the political mantle. Though, the president, of course, has the legitimate right to pardon and that is within her competence. Despite my emotional position, talking about this today is of secondary importance to me for the following reason: let no one think that COVID-19 has been defeated. Let no one think that the economic revival of the country is guaranteed. This is not the case. There are systemic states in the world that are announcing second and third waves today. Uncertainty is the biggest characteristic component of this crisis and global challenge, and the responsibility falling on small countries and governments is increasing tenfold. Therefore, we are absolutely mobilized to defeat COVID-19 (which is not guaranteed to anyone), after which we must restore the country's economy and hold elections in a peaceful and calm environment in this country, which is also of critical importance. The unfortunate thing about all this is that those gentlemen - who were released absolutely undeservingly because they committed specific criminal offences and they are no different from ordinary citizens - will use this for political speculation instead of standing by the people so that we can all care for the country together. They will use this to fight for warm places in Parliament and they will not spare the interests of the country, they will provide countless foolish assessments on all of this and ultimately, they will use all of this for their narrow, personal, political interests. This is unfortunate today, at a time when everyone's sole reason and goal should be to care for this country together, so that we can first defeat COVID-19, and then restore basic income for people. Georgian man is wise - despite everything that has happened, and despite the assessments, whatever they may be, the elections will come and these elections will reveal who deserves what from the citizens of Georgia," Giorgi Gakharia stated.
Press Service of the Government Administration