Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been sentenced to an additional nine years in prison after being convicted of large-scale embezzlement of public funds, a charge he dismisses as politically motivated.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili at Tbilisi City Court and will run concurrently with the six-year sentence he is already serving for abuse of power.
The ruling immediately sparked chaos in the courtroom, with Saakashvili’s supporters denouncing the judge as a “slave” of the government. Among the protesters, some chanted “Bidzina’s puppet!”—a reference to Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s former prime minister and widely seen as the ruling Georgian Dream party’s key figure.
Case Details and Sentencing
The case, widely known as the “jacket case,” accuses Saakashvili of misappropriating 9 million lari (around $3.2 million today) from the state budget between 2009 and 2013 for personal expenses. These include:
- Luxury cosmetic procedures in clinics abroad.
- Private educational expenses amounting to 60,000 lari.
Judge Kochlamazashvili ruled that Saakashvili had directly embezzled funds, while his co-defendant Temur Janashia, the former head of the Special State Protection Service, was convicted of abuse of power and fined 300,000 lari ($106,760). The court noted that Janashia did not personally embezzle funds but facilitated the spending.
A Divisive Figure in Georgian Politics
Saakashvili, who led Georgia from 2004 to 2013, remains one of the country’s most polarising figures. He rose to power following the 2003 Rose Revolution, introducing ambitious reforms that modernised Georgia’s police force and judiciary while aligning the country with Western institutions such as NATO and the EU.
However, his later years in office were marked by authoritarian tendencies, accusations of police brutality, and the 2008 war with Russia, which resulted in the loss of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. His party, the United National Movement (UNM), was defeated in the 2012 elections by Georgian Dream, a coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who continues to wield influence over the government.
Arrest and Previous Convictions
After leaving office, Saakashvili moved to Ukraine, where he briefly served as governor of Odesa region before falling out with Ukrainian authorities. In October 2021, he secretly returned to Georgia, hiding in a truck to evade border controls. He was arrested upon arrival and has been imprisoned since.
He had previously been convicted in absentia for abuse of power, including:
- Granting a presidential pardon to individuals convicted of the murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani.
- Ordering the assault of opposition MP Valeri Gelashvili.
Courtroom Turmoil and Health Concerns
Saakashvili did not attend his sentencing in person, citing health issues. He instead joined a previous court session via video link from the Vivamedi Clinic, where he has been receiving medical treatment. His legal team and supporters claim that his health has significantly deteriorated due to alleged mistreatment in detention.
During the trial, opposition figures and activists disrupted proceedings, leading to the removal of several individuals, including political activist Zviad Kuprava.
Ongoing Trials and Political Impact
In addition to his latest conviction, Saakashvili faces two other ongoing legal cases:
- The 7 November 2007 crackdown – involving the violent dispersal of anti-government protests and the raid on opposition-aligned Imedi TV.
- Illegal border crossing – related to his clandestine return to Georgia in 2021, which prosecutors argue violated national security laws.
These cases have deepened political divisions in Georgia, with Saakashvili’s allies insisting that the government is using the judiciary to eliminate him as a political rival ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections.
International Response and Future Implications
Saakashvili’s imprisonment has drawn international scrutiny, particularly from the United States and European Union, where concerns have been raised about the independence of Georgia’s judiciary.
While Western diplomats have previously called for his release on humanitarian grounds, the Georgian government maintains that he must be held accountable for his actions.
Image source: ekhokavkaza.com
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