The Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has stated that there will be no relief for the country’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili, asserting that he must answer for the crimes he is accused of. The remark was relayed by the agency Sputnik.Georgia.
Papuashvili emphasized that Saakashvili should face consequences for the offenses alleged against the Georgian people and that there will be no mercy in the eyes of the law.
He also criticized statements by Vladimir Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, Maia Sandu, president of Moldova, and various members of the European Parliament, accusing them of misrepresenting Georgia’s handling of Saakashvili. Papuashvili called for a public apology for these remarks.
The conversation touched on the ongoing discussions about Saakashvili’s health and the state of his welfare.
Saakashvili returned to his native city in October 2021 amid numerous criminal cases trailing his name. Following his return, he was detained and subsequently imprisoned. During detention, Saakashvili went on a hunger strike, arguing that his confinement had become politicized. In May 2022 his health deteriorated, leading to a transfer from prison to a capital clinic for medical evaluation. Even with his health concerns, the former president continued to express a desire to participate in Georgia’s political life. The United National Movement did not dismiss the possibility of nominating him for prime minister if he were to win future elections.
Earlier discussions suggested that Saakashvili supported direct NATO involvement in the Ukraine conflict.