Saakashvili handed extra 9‑year sentence amid protests
Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili was sentenced on Wednesday to an additional nine years in prison for the embezzlement of public funds. The politician is already serving a six-year prison sentence.
- Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia, was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison for embezzling public funds.
- The prosecution accused him of spending approximately £2.5 million for personal purposes between 2009 and 2013.
- Saakashvili denies the charges, claiming the trial is politically motivated.
What were the reactions to the verdict?
After the verdict was announced, protests erupted in the courtroom. Saakashvili's supporters accused the judge of being a "slave of Bidzina," referring to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the wealthiest Georgian and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Saakashvili was not present at the trial, and his supporters emphasise the political nature of the charges.
What’s next for Saakashvili?
Saakashvili, who was imprisoned in October 2021, may not be released before 1 October 2030. In the meantime, the former president has staged several hunger strikes, spending most of his sentence in a prison hospital. Further legal proceedings are ongoing against the politician, indicating more complications in his legal situation.
