13:00, 19 March 2011

"Nationwide Resistance Movement" demands mass amnesty in Georgia

On March 18, the NGO named the "Nationwide Resistance Movement" held a rally in downtown Tbilisi. The action demanded to adopt a law on amnesty for those prisoners, whose term does not exceed three years, and to release 60 persons considered by the Movement as political prisoners.

More than 1000 persons gathered in front of the Shota Rustaveli monument. According to David Tarkhan-Mouravi, leader of the NGO, the big audience is explained by the fact that "there is not a single family left, whose relative or close friend was not in jail."

"Some of them have already served their terms or are still in jail; others were conditionally sentenced or received CER (conditional early relief). 10 percent of the country's population have passed through the judicial and penal system, which is abnormal," said Tarkhan-Mouravi.

As reported by Gela Nikoleishvili, a lawyer and activist of the NGO "Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights", according to official reports, 24,000 persons are now imprisoned in Georgia.

Author: Beslan Kmuzov

Source: CK correspondent