Vakhtang Kobalia, a commander of military formations and ally of Georgia’s late President Zviad Gamsakhurdia, was released on May 9 after the presidential pardon.

After a trial lasting one year, the Supreme Court in 1996 found Kobalia guilty of treason, banditry, and the 1993 murders of five soldiers and a TV journalist.

The Supreme Court sentenced him to death penalty. In 1997 the sentence was changed for 20-year imprisonment.
 
Release of Kobalia is a part of National Accord policy launched from the very first day of Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency.