U.S. concerned about Saakashvili's criminal prosecution
By Jamila Babayeva
The U.S. is concerned about the prosecution of Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.
"The U.S. is concerned that Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili has been charged under the Criminal Code," U.S. Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki said, according to a statement posted on the Department's website.
She said the judicial system must not be used as a tool of political revenge.
"We are closely monitoring this case and related cases," she noted. "We continue informing Georgian officials that it is important to rigidly adhere to the established norms and the rule of law."
The Georgian Prosecutor's Office formally charged ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili on July 29.
Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili's lawyer Otar Kahidze attended a court session when an indictment was announced.
The indictment against Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili was made upon Part 3, Article 333 of the Georgian Criminal Code (exceeding authority).
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.