TBILISI, DFWatch — Parliament’s judiciary committee has started reviewing a draft bill which will free former government officials from responsibility for crimes committed while in office.

Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili first announced the idea in the end of December. He said that the system forced officials to commit actions which were against the law and that’s why they shouldn’t be held responsible for actions while in office.

“Davit Usupashvili [Speaker of Parliament] is working to prepare something like an amnesty for officials who abused their power; to find a legal way to preliminary forgive and let the situation calm down,” Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told DF Watch.

“They will lose their fear and work normally. They are our citizens, and most of those who abused power are victims of this system, and I think this will be a logical way out. Of course, it won’t apply to crime.”

Irakli Gharibashvili, Georgia’s Interior Minister later stated that the previous system was ‘catastrophic’ as it had many victims, who worked on official positions.

“This is a humane gesture by the Prime Minister,” he said.


This is the argument for lawmakers of this new draft to forgive crime for former officials who are victims of Saakashvili’s government.

Representatives of the new government explain that the new law won’t apply to people who were decision makers, nor will it apply to people who have committed grave crimes.

No further details are known about the law. Draft will officially be presented to parliament in February.

“We will present the draft soon and you will see what we are planning to initiate. By now, the draft of the law is in the process of preparation,” Tina Khidasheli from parliament majority told DF Watch.