The former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, has received another jail sentence, this time lasting four-and-a-half years. The ruling came from a Georgian court on Monday due to his unlawful re-entry into the country while in exile in 2021, according to statements made by his legal representation. This latest judgment compounds his existing sentences, which are for embezzlement and abuse of power during his administration, ultimately totaling over 12 years in prison. Saakashvili has consistently refuted all allegations against him, labeling the new sentence as "illegal" and "unjust," and he claims that his imprisonment is politically charged.
Former Georgian President Saakashvili Sentenced to Additional Jail Time
Former Georgian President Saakashvili Sentenced to Additional Jail Time
A court in Georgia has delivered a new prison sentence to the former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, amid accusations of political motivation behind his incarceration.
Opposing the ruling Georgian Dream party, which leans towards Russia, Saakashvili previously endeavored to build stronger connections with Western nations during his presidency. In a recent message from the medical facility where he is detained, he expressed his determination to continue fighting until the very end. Just last week, he was also sentenced to nine years regarding embezzlement—terms that align with penalties he is currently serving. His legal troubles date back to 2018 when he faced trials in absentia.
The former president marked his contentious return to Georgia in 2021, arriving by ferry from Ukraine to spur a wave of anti-government protests, but was promptly arrested. Saakashvili, who governed Georgia from 2004 until 2013, has spent a significant amount of his post-presidency life in Ukraine, where he gained citizenship in 2015 and later renounced his Georgian nationality when he became the governor of Odesa. Although his citizenship was annulled in 2017, it was reinstated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019.
In his latest video message, he pointed out that his sentence sends a chilling message to President Zelensky about the repercussions of maintaining close ties with Ukraine. Zelensky, who chose Saakashvili for reform efforts in Ukraine, has openly called for his return to Ukraine, suggesting that Russia is facilitating Saakashvili's suffering at the hands of Georgia's government.
In light of Saakashvili's deteriorating health, the European Union has persistently urged for his immediate release, while the Council of Europe has classified him as a "political prisoner." Amnesty International has condemned his treatment as an instance of "political vengeance."
The former president marked his contentious return to Georgia in 2021, arriving by ferry from Ukraine to spur a wave of anti-government protests, but was promptly arrested. Saakashvili, who governed Georgia from 2004 until 2013, has spent a significant amount of his post-presidency life in Ukraine, where he gained citizenship in 2015 and later renounced his Georgian nationality when he became the governor of Odesa. Although his citizenship was annulled in 2017, it was reinstated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019.
In his latest video message, he pointed out that his sentence sends a chilling message to President Zelensky about the repercussions of maintaining close ties with Ukraine. Zelensky, who chose Saakashvili for reform efforts in Ukraine, has openly called for his return to Ukraine, suggesting that Russia is facilitating Saakashvili's suffering at the hands of Georgia's government.
In light of Saakashvili's deteriorating health, the European Union has persistently urged for his immediate release, while the Council of Europe has classified him as a "political prisoner." Amnesty International has condemned his treatment as an instance of "political vengeance."
