Saakashvili ready to testify but only during a trial

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili is ready to give his testimony but only during a trial on the merits of the particular case, says ousted Tbilisi Mayor.

Former Tbilisi Mayor and current UNM member Gigi Ugulava went public about the ex-president's position on Rustavi 2 TV last night.

"Let me elaborate on Mikheil Saakashvili's position with whom I had a telephone conversation few hours ago.

"In particular, if the cases produced by the Prosecution have some legal perspective, of course, they will go to Court for further judicial review. The Prosecution has a possibility to question any citizen as a witness and among them a witness who had not been questioned during the investigation process.

"When there will be a hearing of the cases and the judge will find necessary to question Saakashvili in order to determine the truth, of course, he is ready to be involved through a Skype conference and give his testimony," Ugulava said.

This would be the only scenario the ex-president would contribute, Ugulava said. Otherwise,

Saakashvii would not participate in the "ongoing masquerade".

Saakashvili was summoned to appear at the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on March 27 to be questioned on several high-profile cases but he did not show up.

The Office then offered him the possibility of testifying via video conference from abroad, which he also denied.

Yesterday, Saakashvili was given a week to decide his next steps. The proposal about testifying through a video-conference was sent to the ex-President according to existing standards.