Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili has strongly criticized parliament over last week's overriding of the presidential veto on an amnesty bill that envisions release of 3,000 people from local prisons.

"This decision is directed against the statehood and security of Georgia," Saakashvili said in an address to the nation, Azerbaijan's Trend news agency reported on Friday.

Last Friday, the Georgian parliament overruled Saakashvili's veto on the amnesty bill with a 91-21 vote. The measure will see the release of 200 persons who are recognized by the parliament as 'political prisoners' in a week's time, while those entitled to be set free under the amnesty are to be released in two months after due process.

President Saakashvili protested pardoning of pedophiles and those who were convicted for espionage for Russia.

"It is mind-boggling when an occupied country frees invading spies; so now...how can we talk about the security of Georgia, which was among the leaders in this regard in Europe, as 3,000 criminals are being set free?"

Saakashvili called on the Georgian society "to unite and prevent the victory of those who are ruining the country and trying to tie it back to Russia both in terms of politics and economics and energy."

The parliament rejected the president's amendments, which included revision of the clauses that concern political prisoners and excluded commutation of jail sentences for murderers, rapists and perpetrators of other serious crimes.

Saakashvili has finally signed a decree to pardon prisoners. The presidential administration said Friday that the Commission of Pardons had submitted a list of 131 individuals to the president. An additional list was also submitted to the presidential administration.

231 people have already been released from prison. The sentence of 44 prisoners was reduced. Five women and two minors are among the pardoned.