Ex-Defence Minister Okruashvili’s case shows ‘no one benefits from bargaining with evil’, Saakashvili

Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili has commented on the recent imprisonment of former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, saying his case demonstrated that “no one ultimately benefits from making deals with evil.” Saakashvili made the remarks in a social media post on Thursday, expressing unexpected solidarity with Okruashvili despite their political conflicts.

Saakashvili claimed that Okruashvili had previously “damaged state institutions” through his ties with Badri Patarkatsishvili and later “did everything” for the ruling Georgian Dream party, including giving testimony used to convict Saakashvili himself.

However, the former president added that Okruashvili appeared to have “offended Russia at some point,” which he suggested may explain why the former minister now finds himself detained “in a cell near me.”

“His example clearly shows that no one ultimately benefits from bargaining with evil. It must also be said that he acted correctly by refusing to cooperate with the commission of evil,” Saakashvili wrote.

Saakashvili expressed solidarity with Okruashvili and wished him release and reunification with his family.

Irakli Okruashvili was recently sentenced by Tbilisi City Court to seven years in prison in the case concerning the 2004 killing of Buta Robakidze. Due to the amnesty law, his sentence was reduced to five years and three months. In the same case, former Prosecutor General Zurab Adeishvili was acquitted.