In a courtroom in Georgia on Monday, former President Mikheil Saakashvili received an additional prison sentence, bringing his total time in prison to 12½ years. Saakashvili condemned the ruling, calling it illegal.
Having served as Georgia’s president from 2004 to 2013, Saakashvili had previously been convicted for abuse of power and embezzlement, charges that he and his team claimed were politically driven. The latest sentence, which adds four years and six months for charges related to illegal border crossing, results in a cumulative prison term of 12 years and six months.
Appearing via videoconference, Saakashvili labeled the Monday verdict as “absolutely illegal, unjust sentencing” for alleged crimes he insists he did not commit. “They want to annihilate me in prison,” he stated. “But no matter what, I will fight till the end.”
Saakashvili was a key figure in the Rose Revolution of 2003, which led to significant changes in Georgia’s governance, including anti-corruption measures. During his tenure, he engaged in a brief but intense conflict with Russia in 2008, resulting in Georgia losing control over two separatist regions. Critics accused him of turning autocratic, especially during crackdowns on protests against his government.
In the 2012 elections, Saakashvili’s United National Movement party was defeated by the Georgian Dream party, founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire with significant ties to Russia. Since then, Georgian Dream has been accused of eroding democratic freedoms and aligning the nation increasingly towards Russia, distancing it from potential European Union membership.
After leaving office, Saakashvili moved to Ukraine in 2013, where he received Ukrainian citizenship and served as the governor of the Odesa region for a brief period. He returned to Georgia in October 2021 aiming to energize opposition forces ahead of local elections, but was promptly detained.
Following his arrest, Saakashvili was imprisoned in a hospital setting after participating in hunger strikes and later alleging that he had been poisoned. He is currently receiving ongoing medical care at the Vivamedi Clinic, where he is being monitored for several chronic health issues that reportedly fluctuate in severity.
Beka Basilaia, Saakashvili’s attorney, reiterated the stance that the former president is being held as a political prisoner. “As long as Georgian Dream remains in power, the judiciary is a farce and will make whatever decision it is instructed to,” Basilaia asserted.
