President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using the Georgian government as a tool to harm former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, who had sought to distance his country from Moscow’s influence and later became a Ukrainian citizen. Saakashvili is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in Georgia on charges related to abuse of power, which he claims are politically motivated. During a remote court appearance aired on Georgian television, Saakashvili appeared weak and emaciated, raising concerns about his health. Various groups, including human rights organizations and European leaders, have expressed anxieties about his well-being and treatment in prison.
In his nightly address, President Zelensky expressed his disappointment in the current Georgian government for allowing the Kremlin to harm Saakashvili. He emphasized the urgency of releasing Saakashvili to Ukraine for medical treatment and requested Georgia’s ambassador to Ukraine to travel to Tbilisi within 48 hours to discuss the situation with Georgian authorities. Zelensky and Saakashvili share a history of fighting against Russian aggression, as Saakashvili was President of Georgia during Russia’s invasion in 2008 and his efforts to secure NATO and EU membership for the country angered Vladimir V. Putin, Russia’s president.
Despite their shared history, Georgia’s current government has adopted pro-Russian and anti-Western stances, leading to mass protests in the country. These demonstrations have included demands for Saakashvili’s release. Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies not to overlook Georgia’s treatment of its imprisoned former president and called for action to save Saakashvili, emphasizing that no European government has the right to execute individuals.
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