httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlSUWDjJR44

The Georgian parliament has approved the release of around 3,000 prisoners and shorter terms for thousands more.

The new Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, says many inmates were imprisoned unfairly. However the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called the AMNESTY a ''mass release of criminals'', and warned of GRAVE consequences.

Several Georgians in Tbilisi fear the move could mark a return to the CRIME-RIDDEN 1990s. Georgia has one of the highest INCARCERATION rates in the world, but there is a belief it has become too HEAVY-HANDED recently.

Before October's election, videos broadcast on national television showed prison inmates being beaten and sexually abused by guards. The scandal SPARKED street protests and allowed the then-opposition leader Mr Ivanishvili to PORTRAY the government as HEAVY-HANDED.

Prime Minister Ivanishvili is unpopular with President Saakashvili but Ivanishvili says it is simply trying to address abuses of power committed under the previous government.
Among the freed prisoners is Dzhemal Gundiashvili, a 51-year-old father of six, who was arrested during the May 2011 protests, convicted of trying to overthrow the government and sentenced to three years in prison. He said on Sunday that he was repeatedly beaten in prison and had his ribs broken.

Discussion

-Had you heard about this before? (If not why do you think you haven't)
-What do you think about this article?
-Do you think these people can have been wrongly INCARCERATED?
-Do you think that crime will increase in Georgia now?