A court in Tbilisi has found jailed former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili guilty of illegally crossing the country's border, sentencing him to an additional four years and six months in prison.
Since Saakashvili had already been sentenced to nine years in previous cases, Judge Mikheil Jinjolia in the Tbilisi City Court ruled that the former president would now serve a total of 12 years and six months behind bars.
According to this ruling, Saakashvili will remain imprisoned until April 1, 2034.
Speaking via video link from the Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi during a separate trial, Saakashvili strongly condemned the ruling.
"This verdict is meant to destroy me in prison, to eliminate me physically," he said.
He declared that he remained a threat to his political opponents, whether behind bars or even in death.
"You cannot destroy the idea of Georgia's freedom or the soul of Saakashvili. We are fighting and will win," the former president declared.
Saakashvili had been wanted by Georgian authorities and secretly returned to Georgia on September 29, 2021, after years of self-imposed exile. Two days later, on October 1, he was arrested. Prosecutors charged him with illegal border crossing.
Last week, the Tbilisi City Court's Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili sentenced Saakashvili to an additional nine years in prison for the large-scale embezzlement of public funds. He ruled that the term would be served concurrently with the six-year prison term Saakashvili was already serving for abuse of power.
Saakashvili, president of Georgia from 2003 to 2013, has consistently denied all the charges.
His steadfast denial of his guilt, echoed by the opposition United National Movement and several other political groups, has garnered sympathy and support among many Georgians. Many argue that the case was driven by political retribution.
Governor In Ukraine
Saakashvili's presidency was marked by ambitious reforms to curb corruption and modernize the country, including significant changes in the police force and the judiciary.
After leaving office, he became involved in Ukrainian politics, serving as the governor of Odesa from 2015 to 2016 before falling out with Ukrainian authorities.
He had been convicted in absentia on charges related to abuse of power, including granting a presidential pardon to individuals involved in the murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani and the beating of opposition lawmaker Valeri Gelashvili. These charges are part of a series of legal battles he has been facing since leaving office.
Since his arrest, he has been held in detention and is currently receiving medical treatment at the Vivamedi Clinic.
Additionally, Saakashvili is still facing trial for his role in the crackdown on protests on November 7, 2007. The trial is seen as a continuation of the legal challenges he has been facing since leaving office.
The arrest of Saakashvili, a key Western ally and a symbol of democratic reforms in Georgia, has sparked international concern over his health and treatment in detention.