Imprisoned ex-president Saakashvili performs Ukrainian national anthem at trial hearing

Georgia’s imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili performed the national anthem of Ukraine, in a show of support of the country, during the latest hearing in the case against him on charges of embezzlement of state funds on Wednesday.

Saakashvili accompanied his performance of the anthem - coming amid the Russian military build-up at its border with Ukraine - with statements of support for Ukraine, which he is currently a citizen of.

Saakashvili, whose trial concerns allegations of embezzlement of 8.8 million GEL ($3 million/€2.6 million) of state funds during his time in the government, repeated “glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes” - a popular slogan of the Ukrainian national movements - after performing the anthem in Tbilisi City Court.

The imprisoned politician’s actions came along with disruptions and mutual allegations involving other persons present at the hearing.

Opposition MP Tako Charkviani was expelled from the process after calling the case “shameful” and the prosecutor “corrupt”, with judge Badri Kotchlamazishvili responding by telling the public not to participate in the process if they believed it was “shameful or a farce”. 

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Anzor Chubinidze, the Head of the Special State Protection Service, was called as a witness by the defence, however he refused to testify before the court, noting he “had nothing to do with the case”. 

I think that the accused himself and his lawyers are much more competent and have a much better idea of why and for what these funds were spent,” Chubinidze said in comments about the embezzlement charge.

The accusation by the Prosecutor’s Office claims that an agreement between Saakashvili and former head of the Special State Protection Service Teimuraz Janashia, who is also charged with the offence, led to the use of state funds for expensive clothes, massage and other aesthetic procedures for Saakashvili and a number of individuals connected with the former president. The prosecution has alleged the money was used from the budget of the Special Protection Service in a secretive manner.

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Prosecutor Ketevan Chachava said the state body “had never agreed” to examine Chubinidze, noting “he had nothing to do with the case, therefore, the witness cannot be forced to testify.” However, Saakashvili’s lawyer Beka Basilaia called the prosecutor’s statement a “lie,” adding Chubinidze had been listed for examination by the defence.

During Thursday’s hearing, Saakashvili produced images of real estate allegedly belonging to various incumbent government officials, calling the trial politically motivated and “probably the most shameful process in the history of Georgia.”

The charges facing Saakashvili in the case are punishable by between 7-11 years in prison.

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Saakashvili is already serving a sentence for abuse of power, commenced following his clandestine return to Georgia in October last year. The politician returned just before municipal elections were held in the country after spending eight years abroad, and was arrested by law enforcement in a flat offered as a hideout to him by a sympathiser.

Saakashvili had been convicted in absentia on two counts of abuse of power and sentenced to six years in prison. He faces additional charges including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal and illegal border crossing.