Saakashvili may be sentenced to eight years in prison
By Jamila Babayeva
The Georgian Prosecutor's Office announced that three criminal cases have been filed against former president Mikheil Saakashvili (2004-2013) on July 28.
Saakashvili is accused of brutal dispersal of a peaceful rally on November 7, 2007, appropriation of "Imedi" TV company and misappropriation of businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili's property.
Saakashvili is accused of misusing his authority on these cases, the Georgian prosecutor's office said, adding that there are some other cases which are being reviewed.
The accusations were announced after Saakashvili did not appear for questioning as a witness in the Georgian Chief Prosecutor's Office at 11:00 on July 28.
The prosecutor's office believes that the mentioned charges must also apply to ex-Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, Defense Minister David Kezerashvili, Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava, brothers Bacho and Data Akhalaia and other government officials.
The prosecutor's office says all these crimes were committed by Saakashvili's direct order. If found guilty, Saakashvili would be sentenced to 5-8 years in prison.
Commenting on the criminal charges against him, Saakashvili said the charges are politically motivated and initiated by ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom he referred to as a "Russian oligarch".
"Though Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ivanishvili are cheering to see filing of these criminal charges against me, this joy will not last long as Georgia will soon get rid of Ivanishvili," he wrote on his Facebook page.