PM Garibashvili: Saakashvili is convict, he’ll have to fully serve his term

Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili says that imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili will have to serve his term to the end as “no one is above the law,” noting that he was not interested in “speculations” over Saakashvili’s transfer (abrod) for treatment.

 

Garibashvili’s comments on Friday came on the heels of recent statements of the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition Nika Melia that the founder of the ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has  reportedly faced problems in the transfer of his 500 million USD due to Saakashvili’s issue.

 

The PM called Melia a “bankrupted politician,” adding that both him and Saakashvili “have been given their places” by the Georgian Dream authorities.

 

“I really do not care about the baseless statements of bankrupt and failed politicians. I know one thing, everyone in this country has to obey the law. Those who dared to put themselves above the law, you have seen that they have been sent where they deserved,” Garibashvili said today while visiting western Georgia.

 

Saakashvili was arrested in Georgia in October 2021 after eight years in political exile.

 

Currently he is serving his six-year term for abuse of power.