Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said on Wednesday that he
will declare mass amnesty in the Caucasus nation, after a week-long
state of emergency.
"I think that the government can grant amnesty to people who
committed minor and non-violent crimes and who need to be
reintegrated into society. Something they are unlikely to get in
prison," Saakashvili told a group of doctors.
The amnesty, however, will not apply to those who committed
violent crimes or murder, as well as to officials convicted of
corruption, Interfax news agency quoted the president as
saying.
Saakashvili declared a state of emergency last Wednesday, after
a police crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burdzhanadze said on Wednesday
that the state of emergency, which bans public demonstrations and
independent newscasts, will be lifted on Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2007)
