Ex-Pres Saakashvili and ex-PM Nogaideli clash in court during case hearing

A verbal confrontation broke out between Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili and former prime minister under his rule, Zurab Nogaideli, during a hearing at Tbilisi City Court in the case related to the November 2007 dispersal of opposition protests in Tbilisi. 

The session initially proceeded calmly, with Saakashvili questioning Nogaideli, but tensions escalated as the exchange became more pointed.

Saakashvili rejected the charges against him, claiming the case had been fabricated, and criticised Nogaideli, accusing him of acting against Georgia’s interests. He also questioned Nogaideli about his past contacts with Russian officials.

Nogaideli responded that his visits to Russia had been aimed at improving relations between Georgia and Russia, and confirmed that he had met Vladimir Putin on several occasions.

Following the exchange, Saakashvili left the courtroom.

After the hearing, Nogaideli criticised Saakashvili, rejecting accusations of treason and defending his own actions. He said engagement with Russia should not be viewed as betrayal and argued that relations between the two countries need to be normalised.