Saakashvili case will not influence Georgia’s global relations, says PM
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Criminal charges imposed on Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili will not influence the country’s positive relationships with partner counties, Georgia’s Prime Minister believes.
PM Irakli Garibashvili said Georgia was a democratic country and its "relationship with any country would not outweigh the former president who was accused of very serious crimes”.
"[Our] goal is to put an end to impunity in the country. This is one of the main appeals of the United Nations Human Right Committee. Speculations that the former president is more important than the state is extremely unreasonable,” Garibashvili said after the 2014 Ambassadorial meeting in Tbilisi today.
He emphasized the independent court would decide whether a person was guilty of an offence and the Government must provide a transparent investigation into each case.
Saakashvili and two other ex-government officials were sentenced to pre-trial detention by Tbilisi City Court on August 2 in absentia.
Saakashvili has been charged with the unlawful seizure of Imedi TV and other assets owned at the time by tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, who died in February 2008, as well as exceeding official authorities that stemmed from the breakup of November 7, 2007 anti-government protests.
The former leader, who is currently based in the United States but often travelled to different countries, left Georgia in November 2013 when his second and final presidential term ended.
Speaking from Budapest earlier this week, Saakashvili dismissed the charges against him and said his case was a political witch-hunt.
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and two other ex-government officials have been sentenced to pre-trial detention after a five hour hearing at Tbilisi City Court.
The official investigation into the case against former president Mikheil Saakashvili will be objective and transparent and will provide a response to the country’s former leader, said Georgia’s Prime Minister.
"Why do I need political asylum?” asked Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili when asked if he would request asylum in Hungary or any other country.
Georgian diplomat and lawmaker Tedo Japaridze believes a response from four United States (US) Senators’ to the charges against Georgia’s former president is unhelpful and says the "bilateral cleavage emerging through the statement was both uncalled for and regrettable”.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has released a special statement outlining details of the criminal case against Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and former government members, citing "high public interest”.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is welcoming the official investigation into the indictments against ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and several former high ranking officials and says the investigation will be "absolutely open”.
Local think-tanks say they have found signs of criminal acts in relation to the charges brought against Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili but are urging investigators to present evidence to prove the charges.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has officially filed criminal charges against ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili today, July 28.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion in Court asking Saakashvili be sentenced to pre-trial detention. Georgia’s former leader is currently facing criminal charges relating to exceeding authority.
Georgia is a stable and reliable partner, who thoroughly fulfills its obligations and responsibilities before its international partners, the country’s Prime Minister says.
Questions surrounding the charges against former president Mikheil Saakashvili and whether he will be extradited to Georgia to face charges are continuing despite the former leaders refusal to return to his homeland and answer investigator’s questions.
Tbilisi Court of Appeal has rejected a plea to quash pre-trial detention imposed on Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili.