Opposition leader claims “overwhelming public support” for ex-Pres. Saakashvili’s release

Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition, allied with the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party, cited recent public opinion polls on Friday indicating “overwhelming support” for the release of Mikheil Saakashvili, the former President of Georgia currently in jail. 

The comment came after Sopio Japaridze, Saakashvili’s representative, announced earlier in the day that the UNM, founded by the ex-President and in office between 2004-2012, had launched a nationwide campaign to collect signatures for Saakashvili’s release. 

She stated that the signatures would be submitted to President Salome Zourabishvili on March 1. Vashadze mentioned that he had already signed the petition and called for others to join the initiative.

He also argued, “keeping Misha incarcerated sends a chilling message to potential investors, indicating a flawed judiciary system. This discourages them from involvement here, fearing arbitrary detention of political figures. Our goal should be to create an environment conducive to economic growth.”

Saakashvili was arrested in October 2021 upon his covert return from Ukraine after eight years in self-imposed political exile and is currently serving a six-year term for abuse of power during his time in office. He has not been designated as a political prisoner by the international community or foreign organizations.