Georgian parliament amnesties Russian spies

On Friday evening the Georgian parliament has overcome veto of President Mikheil Saakashvili at the amnesty bill. This will affect almost all prisoners in Georgia. Among those who will be released under an amnesty - all convicted of spying for Russia.

Amnesty bill, which on December 27 refused to sign the President, provides relief or mitigation of the penalty for almost all inmates in Georgia's prisons, including for those who are Georgian Parliament has assigned status of political prisoners.

Recognized political prisoners are those who are serving a sentence for espionage in favor of Russia. Speaker David Usupashvili said that the law "On amnesty" has not entered into force, as the decision of overcoming the veto should be re-routed to the President. The President must sign it within 7 days.

"If he again decides not to sign the law, then it will be done by the speaker of parliament. From that moment, the law will be ready for publication. Then it will gain legal force," added Usupashvili. According to preliminary data, the amnesty will release about 3.5 thousand prisoners. In addition, about 5.5 thousand prisoners await parole.

Mikhail Saakashvili called shameful the fact of overcoming the veto on the law "On Amnesty" by the Parliament, warning that this action would contribute to the worsening of the crime situation and "encourage spies."

"The Parliament has released all the Russian spies, and the Parliament's decision will encourage traitors," said the president.

Political amnesty was initiated by the Committee on Human Rights, with the assistance of several NGOs. -02D-