On August 6, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili addressed the role of the now-jailed former President and founder of the largest opposition party, the United National Movement, Mikheil Saakashvili, in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections. 

Zourabichvili stated, "The Georgian Dream's last hope before the elections is to intimidate voters with the figure of Saakashvili." She criticized the extensive media coverage Saakashvili has received, noting that his court sessions, which are broadcast live, allow him to make political statements without restriction. Zourabichvili remarked, "It is remarkable that all his trials - his speeches are broadcast live. I have never seen anything like this."

When asked about the possibility of pardoning Saakashvili, Zourabichvili referred to her previous comments, asserting that she had addressed this issue definitively. She had previously stated that she would "never pardon" Saakashvili. However, her stance has since evolved, and she now avoids commenting further, deeming the matter a "personal responsibility." Zourabichvili emphasized that the current focus should be on Georgia's future rather than Saakashvili's fate: "What is relevant today is what kind of future awaits Georgia. First, we must save Georgia, and then Saakashvili's fate will find its place."

In contrast, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili suggested that Zourabichvili might be considering a pardon for Saakashvili due to a sense of indebtedness to him and his party. Papuashvili stated, "Salome Zourabichvili retains her post thanks to Mikheil Saakashvili personally and the United National Movement." He alluded to the broader political context, including public sentiment and recent Constitutional Court and Parliament decisions regarding her impeachment. Papuashvili expressed his belief that these factors might influence Zourabichvili's decision on the pardon.