TBILISI, January 13 (RIA Novosti) – Some 190 inmates considered political prisoners have been freed in Georgia under amnesty which came into effect on Sunday.

Many of those who walked free were arrested for participating in protest actions staged by Georgia’s opposition between 2005 and 2011.

Some 3,000 prisoners will be eventually released under the law on amnesty, which was signed by Parliamentary Speaker Davit Usupashvili on Saturday.

President Mikheil Saakashvili, who strongly opposes the move, vetoed the bill on political amnesty in late December. However, the parliament later overturned the president’s veto.

In his address to the nation, Saakashvili said he wanted to protect society from the consequences of the amnesty that would release criminals, including “Russian spies.”