According to Georgia Channel One, the Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze, stated that former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will be returned to a penal facility if doctors provide an affirmative medical recommendation. He emphasized that Saakashvili will be unable to participate in future elections in Georgia not only because he is currently incarcerated, but also due to his status as a Ukrainian citizen, a fact that complicates any potential political engagement under the country’s current legal framework. Bregadze asserted that Saakashvili claims Ukrainian citizenship and this claim is presented as a confirmed fact by him, making it clear that the former president has no right to engage in political activity or hold political membership within Georgia while this situation persists, and this is a reminder that the person in question forfeits such rights as a consequence of his political and national status.
He added that Saakashvili himself had renounced his Georgian citizenship and moved to Ukraine after his presidency, a step Bregadze described as perplexing and hard to comprehend given the country’s history and Saakashvili’s own role in shaping it. The minister underscored the puzzling nature of such a move, pointing out the contradiction between a high-profile national leader who once held the position of commander-in-chief and the choice to sever ties with the country he once led, thus complicating any future political aspirations within Georgia. He stressed that without a doctor’s recommendation for Saakashvili to be kept in the proper penal setting, the individual would remain in confinement, but with the safeguard that a medical assessment could alter the course of his placement and the related administrative processes.
Saakashvili returned to his hometown in October 2021 despite facing numerous criminal cases brought against him. As a consequence, the former president was arrested and placed in detention, an action that he publicly framed as politically motivated. His health deteriorated over time, and in May 2022 he was transferred from prison to a city clinic for examination and monitoring. Throughout this period, Saakashvili repeatedly asserted his willingness to participate in Georgian politics, even as the United National Movement did not rule out nominating him for a future prime ministerial role if he were to secure victory in upcoming elections, a possibility that kept his supporters hopeful while opponents questioned the feasibility of such an outcome given legal and constitutional constraints.
In public discourse, the clarification of Saakashvili’s intentions and eligibility remained a focal point for many observers. The situation highlighted ongoing debates about dual nationality, constitutional eligibility, and the use of health status in political and legal calculations. Analysts noted that the case reflects a broader trend in post-Soviet states where former leaders navigate complex legal and political environments to maintain influence. As events continued to unfold, commentators and legal experts urged careful consideration of medical opinions and the rule of law when determining the appropriate disposition of Saakashvili’s detention and any potential political rehabilitation in Georgia, while stressing the importance of ensuring due process and consistency with constitutional norms. The situation, viewed through this lens, illustrates how public health assessments can intersect with political loyalty and national allegiance in shaping a figure who remains central to Georgia’s political landscape. The discussion thus remained sensitive, combining legal scrutiny, health evaluations, and the ever-present question of how former leaders fit into the country’s democratic future.