Judges remove preventive detention measure for Saakashvili in one case he faces charge

Judges of Tbilisi City Court have removed a preventive detention measure for Saakashvili in the 2007 rally dispersal case, in which Saakashvili faces abuse of power charge. 

The judges stated earlier today that Saakashvili is already serving his sentence for two separate cases and there was no need for the pretrial measure. 

The next hearing will take place on November 29. 

Saakashvili was not allowed to attend the trial hearing today ‘to prevent provocations’ by his United National Movement party, as well as to avoid health complications on the 41st day of hunger strike, the Special Penitentiary Service said. 

The former president’s lawyers protested the move. 

Nika Gvaramia, head of the opposition-minded Mtavari TV and Saakashvili’s lawyer, said that the “Georgian government expects Saaakshvili will not be alive by the next trial hearing.’ 

Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, is a citizen of Ukraine and currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council. 

He was convicted in Georgia back in 2018 in absentia  for abuse of power and was sentenced to six years in prison. 

Saakashvili has also been charged with illegal takeover of property, illegal rally dispersal, embezzlement and illegally crossing the border.