A Georgian court has sentenced former president Mikheil Saakashvili to an additional four and a half years for illegally crossing the border, compounding his existing prison time to over 12 years amid claims of political motivation.
Saakashvili Sentenced to an Additional Four Years in Georgia
Saakashvili Sentenced to an Additional Four Years in Georgia
Former Georgian president faces longer imprisonment amidst political controversy
In a recent judgment, a court in Georgia added another four-year sentence to jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently facing multiple charges including embezzlement and abuse of power. According to Saakashvili's lawyer, the new ruling stems from his crossing of the border upon returning from exile in 2021, with the total time now served expected to exceed 12 years due to concurrent sentences already imposed on him.
Saakashvili has consistently denied any wrongdoing, deeming the latest ruling "illegal" and "unjust." Many human rights organizations echo his sentiments, suggesting that the charges against him are politically motivated, tied to his opposition to the ruling Georgian Dream party that favors closer ties with Russia.
In a video message from his hospital detention, Saakashvili expressed his intention to continue fighting against his incarceration. He was recently sentenced to nine years for embezzlement from trials conducted in absentia in 2018. Saakashvili was arrested in 2021 upon secretly returning to Georgia to incite protests against the government and was apprehended shortly after.
The former president, who governed Georgia from 2004 to 2013, had typically resided in Ukraine, where he acquired citizenship and served as governor of Odesa. His citizenship was momentarily revoked in 2017 but restored in 2019 by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been vocal in calling for Saakashvili's transfer to Ukraine.
Zelensky claims that Saakashvili's sentence sends a threatening message to Ukraine, reflecting what could happen to unsurrendering leaders. The European Union has voiced concerns over his health and urged for his immediate release, while the Council of Europe has described him as a "political prisoner." Moreover, Amnesty International has denounced the treatment Saakashvili has received, labeling it as "apparent political revenge."
Saakashvili has consistently denied any wrongdoing, deeming the latest ruling "illegal" and "unjust." Many human rights organizations echo his sentiments, suggesting that the charges against him are politically motivated, tied to his opposition to the ruling Georgian Dream party that favors closer ties with Russia.
In a video message from his hospital detention, Saakashvili expressed his intention to continue fighting against his incarceration. He was recently sentenced to nine years for embezzlement from trials conducted in absentia in 2018. Saakashvili was arrested in 2021 upon secretly returning to Georgia to incite protests against the government and was apprehended shortly after.
The former president, who governed Georgia from 2004 to 2013, had typically resided in Ukraine, where he acquired citizenship and served as governor of Odesa. His citizenship was momentarily revoked in 2017 but restored in 2019 by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been vocal in calling for Saakashvili's transfer to Ukraine.
Zelensky claims that Saakashvili's sentence sends a threatening message to Ukraine, reflecting what could happen to unsurrendering leaders. The European Union has voiced concerns over his health and urged for his immediate release, while the Council of Europe has described him as a "political prisoner." Moreover, Amnesty International has denounced the treatment Saakashvili has received, labeling it as "apparent political revenge."
