Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has been sentenced to nine years in prison for embezzlement, according to reports from Georgian media.
Saakashvili was arrested in October 2021 after secretly returning to Georgia during an election period. Authorities accused him of abuse of power, misuse of state funds, and various other offenses committed during his presidency. While in custody, Saakashvili has repeatedly expressed concerns about his deteriorating health.
Georgian broadcaster Mtavari Arxi reported that Saakashvili was found guilty of embezzling $3.2 million in public funds, a case widely referred to as the “suits and bouquets” scandal.
Teimuraz Janashia, Saakashvili’s former head of security, was also convicted but received a fine of 3,000 lari (approximately $1,000), according to the report.
Charges against Saakashvili were first filed in 2014, with prosecutors alleging that he misused state resources during his tenure. The accusations include spending government funds on luxury suits, watches, and coats, as well as financing his son’s education, undergoing cosmetic procedures, and renting high-end vehicles and private jets.
Saakashvili’s time in office was marked by major political and military events. In August 2008, he ordered Georgian forces to enter South Ossetia, triggering a brief military conflict with Russia after Russian peacekeepers in the region were targeted. His administration also faced criticism for suppressing anti-government protests.
After leaving office, Saakashvili fled Georgia. In 2015, he became a Ukrainian citizen and was appointed Governor of Odessa by then-President Petro Poroshenko. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he resigned within a year, citing corruption within the Ukrainian government.