President points to Saakashvili’s “political goals” on question over his pardon

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has pointed to the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s “improved health” and his “political goals” on the question by French publication Le Monde whether she intended to pardon him. 

 

“I can reassure you, he says he is better, he opened a political office for the elections. He is hospitalized. He has two trials ahead of him. Instead of going abroad, he shows his intention to participate in the election campaign. I have no further comments,” Zourabichvili said. 

 

A member of the United National Movement – founded by Saakashvili and in office betwen 2004-2012 – Sopho Japaridze launched an election campaign and meetings in the regions on behalf of Saakashvili in August. 

 

The UNM chair Levan Khabeishvili claimned earlier this month “the vast majority of voters prefer Saakashvili to be the prime minister’s candidate”, and added he would inform the public about the party’s decision. 

 

Saakashvili is banned from participating in the elections as his Georgian citizenship was terminated after he obrained Ukrainian citizenship in 2015. 

 

He was arrested in Tbilisi on his clandestine return in 2021, ahead of domestic municipal elections, and is now serving his six-year-sentence for abuse of power while in office in two separate cases, while three other cases involving him are still pending. 

 

The current Georgian Dream Governmnet claims Saakashvili aimed at sparking unrest in Georgia to regain office and later “drag” the country into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine cnflict.