If a person has committed a crime, the fact that someone calls him a political prisoner, or that he owns a television station should not be an alibi for avoiding responsibility, stated the Prime Minister in response to the journalists’ question concerning Giorgi Rurua being sentenced to four years in prison.

“The justice system has issued a verdict in a criminal case against this person. Of course, I will not comment here. If a person has committed a crime and is guilty, he should be held accountable and he should be in prison, or he should come out, or there are some other legal forms for this”, - said Giorgi Gakhaaria.

When asked whether the President would pardon Giorgi Rurua, the Head of the Government told journalists that the pardon is entirely at the discretion of the President.

“I have no idea whether the President will pardon him but I would like to reiterate that in my view, the justice system must be fair to all, and the imposition and inevitability of punishment is a fundamental element of the justice system. Therefore, if a person has committed a crime, the fact that someone calls him a political prisoner, or that he owns a television station should not be an alibi for avoiding responsibility”, - concluded the Prime Minister.