Ex-president Saakashvili may be questioned for high-profile land forfeit case

Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile, may be questioned in a high profile land forfeit case which concerns the border agreement with Azerbaijan under Saakashvili’s United National Movement government which led to the forfeit of 3,500 hectares of lands against Georgia’s interests.

Prosecutor Mikheil Sadradze stated earlier today that ‘everyone involved in the case will be questioned.’ 

Two former officials, Iveri Melashvili and Natalia Ilichova, were detained back in 2020 in the case for allegedly withholding materials from a border agreement with Azerbaijan under the United National Movement government in 2006-2007. 

The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office said in January 2021 that both ‘acted deliberately, per the demands of their superiors.’ 

The same month Melashvili and Ilichova were released on 20,000 GEL bail each. 

None of them admit to the crime and say that the charges ‘were invented’ under the Georgian Dream leadership to ‘overshadow the government’s inability to run the country properly.’ 

Trials in the case were renewed earlier today with a new judge. 

It has not been stated why the judge has been replaced. 

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union back in 1991, out of its four neighboring states Georgia has agreed upon its borders only with Turkey.

Only two-thirds of the state border has been agreed upon with Azerbaijan so far, which triggered tension in Georgia’s sixth century monastery complex David Gareji on several occasions back in 2019.