President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili has refused to pardon convicted Archbishop Giorgi Mamaladze, Such a statement she made at a briefing.

“I was guided by the main principle regarding Giorgi Mamaladze - not to promote any new confrontation in the society by my decision... I could not find an argument why an exception should be made in the case of Archbishop Giorgi Mamaladze”, - said the President.

She has pardoned only five inmates regarding the Christmas.

Archbishop Giorgi Mamaladze was found guilty into so-called Cyanide Case on charge of plotting murder and illegal carrying of arms and sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment on September 5, 2017.

The Holy Synod requested the President release the Archbishop on November 8.

This was the first Pardon Act after the president declared a moratorium on pardoning prisoners in September.