Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been sentenced to an additional nine years in prison for large-scale embezzlement of public funds, a charge he calls politically motivated.
The sentence was handed down on March 12 by Tbilisi City Court Judge Badri Kohlamazashvili, and will run concurrently with the six-year prison sentence he is already serving for abuse of office.
After the judge announced his decision, a commotion broke out in the courtroom, with Saakashvili's supporters calling the judge a "slave" of the government.
In addition to Saakashvili, the court also convicted Temur Yanashia, the former head of the State Guard's Special Service, and fined him 300.000 lari ($106.760) for abuse of office.
Both Saakashvili, who was president from 2003 to 2013, and Yanashia have consistently denied the allegations.
Their steadfast denial, echoed by the opposition United National Movement and several other political groups, has drawn sympathy and support, with many claiming the case was motivated by political retaliation.
Saakashvili's presidency was marked by ambitious reforms to combat corruption and modernize the country, including significant changes to the police and judiciary.
After leaving office, he became involved in Ukrainian politics, serving as governor of Odessa from 2015 to 2016 before falling out with Ukrainian authorities.
He was arrested in Georgia on October 1, 2021, after secretly returning to the country ahead of local elections.
He was convicted in absentia on charges related to abuse of power, including granting presidential pardons to individuals involved in the murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani and the beating of opposition MP Valeri Gelashvili.
He has been in custody since his arrest and is currently receiving treatment at the Vivamedi clinic.
The prosecution accused Saakashvili and Yanashia of embezzling 9 million lari ($3,2 million) of public funds.
The judge ruled that, while Janashia's actions did not constitute direct embezzlement, Saakashvili was guilty of misusing state resources for personal expenses.
Those present at the court session also chanted "Bidzina's puppet," referring to former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom many opposition supporters accuse of orchestrating politically motivated trials.
Several people, including activist Zvijad Kuprava, were removed from the courtroom for disrupting the proceedings.
Saakashvili requested to attend the sentencing, but cited health problems as his reason for not appearing.
He had previously called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to postpone the verdict and sentence.
However, Koklamazashvili stated that the trial cannot be postponed indefinitely, emphasizing that the defendant's absence does not prevent the court from issuing a verdict.
In addition to his latest conviction, Saakashvili remains embroiled in two other ongoing trials. One of them relates to the events of November 7, 2007, when his government cracked down on anti-government protests in Tbilisi.
The second trial involves charges of illegal border crossing related to his secret return to Georgia in 2021. Saakashvili entered the country hidden in a truck, bypassing border controls, which prosecutors claim is a violation of Georgian law.
These cases continue to fuel political tensions in Georgia, and his supporters claim they are part of an effort to permanently remove him from the political arena.
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