Saakashvili taken to court to attend a trial hearing in own case

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili has been taken to court to attend a trial hearing in own case in Tbilisi City Court later today.  

 

The case concerns embezzlement of more than eight million in state funds.  

 

Saakashvili claims that it will be a ‘historically shameful trial.’  

 

Opposition has plans to hold a rally in front of the court building during the hearing. 

 

Fifteen opposition activists were arrested on Monday, when Saakashvili was allowed to attend a trial hearing in own case for the first time since his arrest.  

 

Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile.  

 

He says he returned to remove the Georgian Dream government from power.  

 

Saakashvili was convicted in absentia in Georgia for abuse of power back in 2018 and was sentenced to six years in prison.  

 

He has also been charged with five other offences.  

 

Saakashvili was allowed to attend a trial hearing on the November 2007 opposition rally dispersal case on Monday, after he suspended his 50-day hunger strike.