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Pro-Western former Georgian leader receives new jail term
(MENAFN) A Georgian court has sentenced former President Mikhail Saakashvili to four and a half years in prison for illegally entering the country in 2021, adding to his existing convictions.
With previous sentences of nine years for embezzlement and six years for abuse of power, the new ruling brings his total prison term to 12 years and six months, the judge announced on Monday.
Saakashvili, a pro-Western politician, rose to power following the 2003 Washington-backed protests and served as Georgia’s president until 2013. After leaving office, he fled the country amid corruption allegations, later obtaining Ukrainian citizenship and holding various political roles in Kiev. However, he eventually fell out with Ukraine’s leadership, lost his citizenship in 2017, and became stateless.
In 2021, despite an outstanding arrest warrant, Saakashvili secretly returned to Georgia, where he was immediately detained. Monday’s ruling confirmed that the time he has already served will count toward his sentence, meaning he will remain in prison until 2034 unless pardoned or released on parole.
Saakashvili, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital, was absent from the court proceedings. He and his supporters have denounced the charges against him as politically motivated, alleging mistreatment by Georgian authorities.
In a video statement following the ruling, he claimed he was being punished for “transforming Georgia into a successful state” and called the convictions against him a “shameful and illegal” series of decisions.
The former leader remains on trial for his role in the violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2007. His presidency is also remembered for Georgia’s brief 2008 war with Russia, triggered by his decision to deploy troops into South Ossetia, where Russian peacekeepers were stationed.
With previous sentences of nine years for embezzlement and six years for abuse of power, the new ruling brings his total prison term to 12 years and six months, the judge announced on Monday.
Saakashvili, a pro-Western politician, rose to power following the 2003 Washington-backed protests and served as Georgia’s president until 2013. After leaving office, he fled the country amid corruption allegations, later obtaining Ukrainian citizenship and holding various political roles in Kiev. However, he eventually fell out with Ukraine’s leadership, lost his citizenship in 2017, and became stateless.
In 2021, despite an outstanding arrest warrant, Saakashvili secretly returned to Georgia, where he was immediately detained. Monday’s ruling confirmed that the time he has already served will count toward his sentence, meaning he will remain in prison until 2034 unless pardoned or released on parole.
Saakashvili, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital, was absent from the court proceedings. He and his supporters have denounced the charges against him as politically motivated, alleging mistreatment by Georgian authorities.
In a video statement following the ruling, he claimed he was being punished for “transforming Georgia into a successful state” and called the convictions against him a “shameful and illegal” series of decisions.
The former leader remains on trial for his role in the violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2007. His presidency is also remembered for Georgia’s brief 2008 war with Russia, triggered by his decision to deploy troops into South Ossetia, where Russian peacekeepers were stationed.
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