Country reeks of Russian urine, ex-Pres Saakashvili tells court

Georgia's jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili told a court on Tuesday that the country "reeks of Russian urine", launching an attack on the government over its policy towards Moscow and a recent altercation involving Russian tourists in eastern Georgia.

Speaking during a court hearing, Saakashvili accused the government of adopting a “submissive approach” towards Russia, arguing that it had emboldened Russian visitors to treat Georgia "as a conquered country".

Referring to the altercation at the Agarani Estate hotel in the Kakheti region, he said the incident was "neither accidental nor isolated" and claimed it reflected a broader pattern of behaviour by Russian tourists under the current government.

Saakashvili alleged that Russian visitors expected Georgians to comply with their demands because the authorities sought to anticipate and fulfil Moscow's wishes.

During his remarks, the former president used a series of inflammatory statements, including claiming that "the country reeks of Russian urine". He later repeated the phrase while referring to the courtroom itself, prompting the presiding judge to issue him with a warning.

Saakashvili also accused the government of attempting to erase the legacy of Georgian soldiers who fought Russia, citing the late national hero Giorgi Antsukhelidze, and called on Georgians to "restore their dignity" and unite against what he described as a dictatorship.

Concluding his address, Saakashvili declared “either freedom or death," before leaving the courtroom.

Saakashvili, who served as Georgia's president from 2004 to 2013, is serving prison sentences in Georgia and faces additional legal proceedings. He maintains that the cases against him are politically motivated, while the authorities deny the allegation.