TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian parliament overrode President Mikheil Saakashvili’s veto against a law about mass amnesty.

91 MPs voted against Saakashvili’s new version of the law, while 4 supported it. Now, the Georgian Dream coalition’s law, which was passed on December 22, will be sent back to the president a second time for him to sign.


If Saakashvili does not sign the law within seven days, Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili is authorized to sign it in his place, after which the law will come into force.

In his speech on Wednesday, the president explained the reasons why he is against enforcing the new amnesty law. He said it will release spies and other criminals. “I won’t sign this as long as I am sober,” he said.