Ex-President Saakashvili claims five years in prison marks ‘historic shame’

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has marked five years since his detention in Georgia, describing his imprisonment as a “historic shame” and claiming that his political ideas are now “more relevant than ever.”

In a statement published on social media, Saakashvili said he had “democratically transferred power” on October 1, 2012, and was imprisoned exactly nine years later by those who had taken over the government.

He said he returned to Georgia because he could not watch what he described as the country’s “destruction” from abroad and felt a responsibility to try to prevent what he called a national catastrophe.

Saakashvili also alleged that he had been mistreated and poisoned in prison and claimed that his detention was being carried out at the direction of Russia. These are his allegations.

Despite his imprisonment, Saakashvili said he remained optimistic, claiming that “80% of the people” had become aware of the situation and that the “Misha generation” was returning to the political stage.

“I know for sure that this spirit of sacrifice will not have been in vain,” Saakashvili wrote.

Saakashvili was arrested on October 1, 2021, after returning to Georgia from Ukraine. He has since been convicted in several criminal cases and remains in prison. He disputes the charges and describes the proceedings as politically motivated.