I have not refused to pardon Mikheil Saakashvili. I don’t comment on pardons unless I say that I am pardoning someone, said the President of Georgia in an interview to Radio Liberty, when she answered a journalist’s question regarding her refusal to pardon former president.

“This is not related to the fact that he played a huge role in setting Georgia on this path, not only he, but also [Eduard] Shevardnadze.

He was the first to open the gate. Zurab Zhvania, whose 60th birthday was celebrated a few days ago, played the main role. Everyone remembers that he was the first to declare: “I am Georgian, and therefore I am European”.

All these individuals, all these governments and administrations have played their part.

Unfortunately, the governments in Georgia, which start very well, then have a tendency to become a bit autocratic”, - said Salome Zourabichvili.