Ex-Pres Saakashvili claims “low chance” of Gov’t change via elections, calls for joint actions

Mikheil Saakashvili, the currently imprisoned former President, on Friday claimed the current Georgian Dream authorities had “no plans” to leave office through elections, and called on opposition groups for joint efforts ahead of the “crucial” next year’s Parliamentary Elections. 

 

“We don’t need to be in one party, we don’t need to marry different parties, political groups or individuals, we just need to change the system through joint actions”, Saakashvili said during his engagement in a trial hearing via an online link. 

 

He also said the opposition groups should request the EU to open additional polling stations for Georgian emigrants to ensure their participation in the vote. 

 

“It is also time for Georgians to continue and expand flash mobs on social networks, contact each other. Everything makes sense”, Saakashvili said. 

 

The third President was arrested on his clandestine return to Georgia in 2021 and is currently serving his six-year-term for abuse of power while in office in two separate cases, while three other cases involving him are still pending.