Mikheil Saakashvili

Former President of Georgia, Ukrainian and Georgian political figure

Mikheil Nikolozovich Saakashvili was born on December 21, 1967, in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR. He graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in international law in 1992, and also earned a master's degree from Columbia University and a doctorate from George Washington University. He served as Minister of Justice of Georgia from 2000 to 2001, and then twice as President of Georgia (2004-2007 and 2008-2013). In 2015, he moved to Ukraine, obtained Ukrainian citizenship, and was appointed head of the Odesa Regional State Administration (2015-2016). However, in 2017, Saakashvili was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship for allegedly concealing information about criminal proceedings in Georgia. After that, he was deported to Poland. In 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy restored Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship, and the next day he returned to Ukraine. Due to his Ukrainian citizenship, Saakashvili was deprived of his Georgian passport. In October 2021, Saakashvili secretly arrived in Georgia, hiding in a trailer with dairy products. However, he was arrested by the Georgian authorities for illegal border crossing. In protest, the politician went on hunger strike several times, insisting that he was arrested on political charges.

1992

Graduated from the Faculty of Law of Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv

1994

Received a Master of Laws degree from Columbia University (USA)

2000

Became Minister of Justice of Georgia

2004

Elected President of Georgia after the Rose Revolution

2004–2013

Implemented reforms in the police, education, and judicial systems; reduced corruption and increased the country's investment attractiveness

2015

Obtained Ukrainian citizenship and became head of the Odesa Regional State Administration

2020

Appointed head of the Executive Committee for Reforms of Ukraine

2021

Was arrested in Georgia

2021

The politician went on a hunger strike demanding appropriate medical treatment

2023

The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on Georgia to pardon and release Saakashvili

2025

Saakashvili was sentenced to 9 years in prison for embezzlement of state funds

News by theme

Lawyers to appeal ECHR decision in Saakashvili case

Lawyers for former Georgian President Saakashvili will appeal the European Court of Human Rights' decision to dismiss his complaint of political persecution and unfair investigation, arguing that he was wrongfully convicted for using his presidential pardon powers.

Politics • May 23, 05:00 PM • 33687 views

Saakashvili loses case in the European Court on violation of his rights by Georgia

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that there was no violation of his rights in the criminal proceedings against Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia, finding the charges to be substantiated and the trial to be fair.

News of the World • May 23, 09:50 AM • 33169 views

ECHR to deliver judgment in Saakashvili v. Georgia case tomorrow

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili claims political persecution in the criminal cases against him, alleging violations of his right to defense and the impartiality of judges, and is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights.

News of the World • May 22, 07:07 PM • 60349 views

Clashes in Tbilisi: activists build barricades at night, opposition party leader claims to have been beaten by police

Protesters against the law "on foreign agents" built barricades overnight after police tried to disperse them, and opposition leader Levan Khabeishvili said he was severely beaten by security forces.

News of the World • May 1, 06:11 AM • 32854 views

Ukraine rejects Georgia's demands for extradition of Saakashvili officials and proposes its own plan for "normalization of relations"

The head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, has proposed a plan to "normalize relations" with Georgia, including the release of Mikheil Saakashvili from prison, the termination of direct flights between Georgia and Russia, and the prevention of Russia's evasion of sanctions, in response to Georgia's demands that it extradite former Georgian officials from Saakashvili's presidency who now hold positions in Ukraine.

Politics • March 11, 07:33 PM • 40643 views

Georgia demands that Ukraine extradite Saakashvili's officials: who are they

Georgia is demanding that Ukraine extradite former Georgian officials convicted of crimes who now hold high positions in the Ukrainian government, claiming that this contradicts the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Politics • March 11, 05:05 PM • 42908 views

Georgian President comments on possible pardon of Saakashvili

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said that the decision to pardon imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili is solely her moral responsibility.

News of the World • February 29, 09:46 AM • 38327 views

Opposition starts collecting signatures for Saakashvili's release under an appeal to the President of Georgia

Georgia's largest opposition party has begun collecting signatures for an appeal to the president demanding the release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili from prison.

Politics • February 16, 07:01 PM • 38091 views

Russia has put about 100 Georgians on the wanted list for helping Ukraine in the war

Russia has put on the wanted list about 100 Georgians who fought or are fighting on the side of Ukraine.

War in Ukraine • February 14, 03:30 PM • 34873 views

Saakashvili's health has improved, but his neurological condition has not changed - doctors' conclusion

The doctors found that although Mikheil Saakashvili's health and weight improved in prison, his neurological condition and cognitive impairment did not change.

News of the World • February 5, 11:17 AM • 34025 views

Georgia's ruling party again talks about transferring Saakashvili to prison

Today, Saakashvili's party, For Georgia, demanded that he be transferred to prison.

Politics • December 21, 05:25 PM • 38345 views

"Galanternik refutes myths: He had nothing to do with "ROST" or the collapse of the Black Sea Shipping Company"

Volodymyr Galanternyk denies his involvement in the company "ROST" and claims he never had any connection to it. He also denies his involvement in the collapse of the Black Sea Shipping Company, stating that his activity as an arbitrator took place only after the sale of the main assets.

Society • March 18, 05:14 PM • 320 views