Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has been sentenced to nine years in prison for embezzlement, according to local media reports. The ruling comes after years of legal battles surrounding his time in office from 2004 to 2013.
Saakashvili was detained in October 2021 after secretly returning to Georgia during an election, despite facing multiple charges. Authorities in Tbilisi accused him of abuse of power, embezzlement, and other offenses. During his incarceration, the former leader’s health deteriorated significantly, with reports indicating severe weight loss and repeated complaints about his conditions in detention.
According to the Georgian TV channel Mtavari Arxi, Saakashvili was convicted in the so-called “suits and bouquets” case, in which he was found guilty of embezzling $3.2 million in state funds. Prosecutors alleged that during his presidency, he used public money to purchase luxury items such as suits, coats, and watches, as well as pay for his son’s education, cosmetic procedures, and expensive rentals, including cars and a private plane.
In the same case, Saakashvili’s former head of security, Teimuraz Janashia, was also found guilty but received a significantly lighter penalty. He was ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 lari (approximately $1,000), according to local reports.
Saakashvili’s legal troubles date back to 2014 when he was first charged with embezzlement. His presidency was marked by both sweeping reforms and controversial decisions, including a violent crackdown on anti-government protests. He also ordered a military operation in August 2008 against the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which led to a brief war with Russia.
Following the end of his term, Saakashvili fled Georgia and later obtained Ukrainian citizenship. In 2015, he was appointed as governor of Ukraine’s Odessa Region by then-President Petro Poroshenko. However, his tenure lasted only a year, ending in scandal and accusations of corruption against the Ukrainian government.
