Georgia's Zourabichvili announces creation of council for new elections, pardons nine convicts

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has announced the creation of a certain council under her leadership to prepare the country for new elections.

“After a meeting with opposition parties, a document is being prepared that will describe all those conditions that are minimally necessary for holding new elections soon,” the president said in a video message, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

At the same time, she assured that she will remain President even after December 29, when her term of office expires.

Meanwhile, the Georgian president's administration said that Zourabichvili had pardoned nine convicts.

Five convicts are completely released from serving their sentences in a penitentiary institution. Four more were reduced the term of the remaining imprisonment. Among them is one woman.

Earlier in November, the president pardoned convicts twice: November 25 - eight people and November 9 - 11.

To recall, President Zourabichvili's term is set to conclude on December 29, 2024. She has expressed intentions to remain in office beyond this date, citing concerns over the legitimacy of recent parliamentary elections and labelling the current parliament as "illegitimate." Zourabichvili has faced significant challenges regarding her position, particularly concerning her term's end and relations with the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has asserted that Zourabichvili must vacate her position, and issued warnings of potential legal consequences, including imprisonment, should she refuse to comply.

Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former professional footballer and politician, was elected as the sixth president of Georgia on December 14, 2024. His election was conducted by a 300-member Electoral College, following constitutional amendments that transitioned Georgia to a parliamentary republic, replacing direct presidential elections with an indirect system.

Kavelashvili, aged 53, is known for his anti-Western stance and was the sole candidate in the election, nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party. His candidacy and subsequent election have been met with significant controversy and opposition. Opposition parties boycotted the vote, alleging electoral fraud and questioning the legitimacy of the process. Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling party, denounced the election as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

By Khagan Isayev