Mikheil Saakashvili's pardon is my presidential right, and it is impossible to intervene in this matter: Zurabishvili

The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, stated during a meeting with representatives of Georgian media on Wednesday that she will exercise her powers until the end of her presidential term this autumn. Interfax reports.

"If politics needs me, I will stay there, one thing is clear: I will reach the end of my presidential mandate," said Zurabishvili.

She believes that her role as president is especially important today for consolidating pro-European forces in Georgia.

Commenting on the possibility of granting a pardon to former president Mikheil Saakashvili, the current president noted that she is under certain pressure from the European Parliament and other bodies regarding this issue.

“Mikheil Saakashvili’s pardon is my presidential right, and it is impossible to intervene in this matter,” said Zurabishvili.

She thinks that a multi-party governance system needs to be established in Georgia. “Since gaining independence, we have been living in a one-party system of state governance in one way or another, but it is time to put an end to that if we want to transition to a European state format,” said Zurabishvili.

In response to questions about introducing a visa regime for Russian citizens or restricting air communication between the two countries, Zurabishvili said that such measures today could be considered provocative steps and could be dangerous for Georgia.