Presidential pardon and amnesty in Georgia — how to apply
A pardon and an amnesty are two different ways of being fully or partly released from a sentence. We help convicted people and their families find out which applies to them and prepare the request.
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A pardon is an individual act: under the Constitution, convicted persons are pardoned by the President of Georgia. Requests are first reviewed by the Pardon Commission, and the President makes the final decision. The criteria and procedure are set by the President and change from time to time.
An amnesty is declared by Parliament through a law and applies to everyone who meets its criteria — without an individual request. So the key question is whether the amnesty law in force covers the specific article and sentence.
What to know
- A pardon can release a person fully or partly from a sentence or reduce it
- A pardon request can be made by the convicted person or a family member
- Conduct, compensating the victim, health and family situation all matter in a request
- An amnesty needs no request — but whether it applies can be disputed in a case
- Alternatives: early release on parole or replacing the rest of the sentence with a lighter one
Our services
- Assessing whether an amnesty applies to your case
- Preparing the pardon request and documents
- References and evidence
- Parole as an alternative
- Advice for the family
- Removing the criminal record after the sentence
Questions & answers
What is the difference between a pardon and an amnesty?
A pardon is granted by the President to a specific person on request. An amnesty is declared by Parliament through a law and applies to everyone who meets its conditions.
Who can request a pardon?
The convicted person or a family member. The Pardon Commission reviews the request and the President decides.
Is there an amnesty in 2026?
An amnesty can only be declared by a law passed by Parliament. If such a law is adopted, we will check whether it covers your article and sentence.
Legal basis
Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge.
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