Georgia’s third President saddened by predecessor’s death

Georgia’s third President Mikheil Saakashvili is saddened by the death of the country’s second President and has expressed his condolences to the former leader’s family members, relatives and friends.

Eduard Shevardnadze died earlier today in his Tbilisi home after battling a long illness. He was 86 years old.

"He was a very important figure at the stage of the Soviet Union collapse and for post-Soviet Georgia,” Saakashvili wrote on his official Facebook page.

"Historians will have to work for a long time to precisely determine his place in history.”

Saakashvili said when his Government came into power in 2003, it did not take legal proceedings against ex-President Shevardnadze despite requests from politicians and society to do so. He said he tried to respect the Presidential institution and protect the country’s civilized image.

"Even more, I ordered for him to maintain his state residence and other presidential privileges,” Saakashvili wrote.

"I think I did it right.”

Saakashvili said he did not change his mind about protecting Shevardnadze even when Shevardnadze called on the current Government to arrest Saakashvili.

"Today, at Saakashvili’s Presidential Library, together with [Georgia’s first President] Zviad Gamsakhurdia, there is President Eduard Shevardnadze’s corner too,” he wrote.

Shevardnadze died at his Tbilisi home earlier today. Member confirmed the former leader had passed after battling a long illness.