Zurabishvili Criticized for Pardoning Prisoner who Killed Police Officer
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has been criticized for her decision to pardon Ramaz Devadze who was convicted in December 2014 for killing a police officer in Batumi.
The court sentenced Devadze to twelve years in prison in 2015 after he fatally shot Tarash Mukbaniani, a 22-year old police officer, at Legas night club in Batumi. Devadze used Mukbaniani’s service gun, which Mukbaniani was carrying despite not being on duty.
“Ramaz Devadze was released from prison yesterday,” his lawyer David Japaridze confirmed. He had served a third of his sentence.
Devadze denied murder, claiming the killing was manslaughter. “Ramaz Devadze did not intentionally kill Mukbaniani,” his lawyer told news network Akhati Taoba. “None of the courts paid any attention to the nightclub’s video camera recordings which make it clear that the policeman initially started shooting at the club. Ramaz was able to confiscate his weapon and fired an accidental shot,” he continued.
The police officer’s family, as well as members of the ruling party Georgian Dream, have heavily criticized Zurabishvili for including Devadze on her list of pardons released on August 28, the national holiday of Mariamoba.
“On what grounds did she let him out of prison? She should be held responsible for her decision,” Mukbaniani’s mother told Imedi.
Prominent members of Georgia Dream, such as Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze and the general secretary and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, also publically spoke out against the decision, whilst others questioned the process by which Zurabishvili selects prisoners to be pardoned.
Since taking office in December 2018, Zurabishvili has pardoned 91 prisoners. However, the process is controversial. Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani criticized Zurabishvili’s pardoning list, claiming that it was not discussed with the justice ministry.
Typically, the Pardon Commission, formed by members of civil society, composes a list of recommendations for a presidential pardon. In December 2018, the commission’s chair Zviad Koridze resigned, disagreeing with the way Zurabishvili appointed new commission members. The President’s office has not released information regarding Koridze’s replacement.
Public Defender and former member of the Pardon Commission Ucha Nanuashvili told OC Media that to his knowledge “the Commission is not active under the current president.”
“It is not clear how the President makes decisions [to grant pardons]. Some general criteria exist but the point of the commission is to ensure the risks, like the one which was not avoided in this case, are considered,” he reported to OC Media.
Zurabishvili is not the first Georgian president to be criticized for her choice of pardons. In February 2018, Iago Nebieradze was released from prison after Giorgi Margvelashvili, then-President, halved his sentence. Originally imprisoned for robbery, Nebieradze raped and murdered an 8-year-old girl in Gori in October 2018 following his release.
Margvelashvili also pardoned Vepkhia Bakradze, convicted for domestic violence, who slit his step-daughter’s throat following his release.
Zurabishvili, who was on a state visit in Poland at the time of the criticism, told Imedi that she would not justify her decision to grant clemency as it was at the President’s discretion.
By Amy Jones
Image source - AFP