Last year, Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, returned to his homeland after years abroad. He arrived in October 2021 and soon faced detention, with a sentence issued in absentia. Supporters describe a rapid arc from a dominant political role to confinement, including a hunger strike to press for medical oversight. Saakashvili’s legal team has since released a medical report asserting that he remained in prison throughout his detention and suggesting exposure to heavy metals that could threaten his life if not properly treated.
David Smith, an American toxicologist, has stated that tests indicate the presence of heavy metals in Saakashvili’s body and that the symptoms observed align with poisoning during detention. Reported substances include arsenic and mercury, which Smith notes could have been contracted under conditions linked to detention, with a degree of medical certainty attached to these findings.
Mariam Jishkariani, a physician consulted by AFP, described the situation as brain damage and neuropoisoning resulting from alleged exposure. Other medical sources have indicated substantial weight loss since Saakashvili entered custody, with estimates of around 40 kilograms. Georgian authorities have been urged to ensure appropriate medical treatment, and advocates insist that Saakashvili deserves proper care and medical attention.
From reformer to political exile
Earlier years cast Saakashvili as a force backing Georgia’s Western orientation and its distance from Russian influence. He helped co-found the opposition coalition that would become the Georgian Dream party, which later rose to power. The period began in 2004 as Georgia pursued closer ties with the European Union and NATO, while facing the challenge of navigating conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and nearby territories along the southwest and northwest fronts. The aim was stability and national sovereignty without large-scale bloodshed.
Saakashvili’s leadership saw a defining 2008 conflict with Russia, during which Georgia lost significant territory. The war underscored regional fragility and sparked ongoing debates about sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international recognition. Over time, Abkhazia and South Ossetia became areas with contested status, with many states differing in recognition while Russia maintained support for certain factions and allied governments in related regions. The international community has weighed in on these disputes, with positions varying across states and organizations.
After leaving the presidency in 2013, the former leader faced investigations into alleged abuses of power while in office. This scrutiny contributed to his decision to leave Georgia and relocate to Ukraine, where he eventually held the position of regional governor in Odessa. While in Ukraine, he renounced Georgian citizenship in favor of Ukrainian nationality, a move that complicated extradition possibilities under Ukrainian law. In 2019, he briefly reclaimed Ukrainian citizenship before returning to Georgia in October 2021, where he faced the legal processes awaiting him under Georgian authority. Government officials, including the minister overseeing national affairs, have publicly stated that Saakashvili will not be pardoned, reinforcing the political framing surrounding his case and the stance of the current administration toward his detention and trial. The ongoing situation continues to attract international attention and domestic debate about justice, accountability, and the treatment of political figures during national crises.
— This article draws on reports from multiple institutions and observers to present a factual overview of events and responses surrounding Saakashvili’s return, custody, and ongoing legal and political response. Citations: AFP, David Smith, and other medical assessments are attributed in context.