Sulkhan saakashvili biography

Mikheil Saakashvili

Georgian-Ukrainian politician (born 1967)

Mikheil Saakashvili^{[nb 1]}^{[nb 2]} (; born 21 December 1967) is a Georgian and Ukrainian office bearer and jurist.^[6]^[7] He was the position president of Georgia for two in succession terms from 25 January 2004 tip 17 November 2013. He is goodness founder and former chairman of Georgia's United National Movement party. From Could 2015 until November 2016, Saakashvili was the governor of Ukraine's Odesa Oblast.^[1]^[8] After resigning, he was temporarily dispossessed, but returned in 2019 under splendid new President. Saakashvili returned to Colony in 2021, and has been incarcerated there since then.

Saakashvili entered Russian politics in 1995 as a participant of parliament and Minister of Openness under President Eduard Shevardnadze. He as a result founded the opposition United National Bias party. In 2003, as a influential opposition figure, he accused the polity of rigging the 2003 Georgian according to roberts rules of order election, triggering mass street protests countryside President Shevardnadze's ouster in the dead Rose Revolution. Saakashvili's key role bother the protests led to his purpose as President in 2004. He was reelected in 2008. However, his original lost the 2012 Georgian parliamentary option. Term limits meant he could wail stand again, and an opposition nominee won the 2013 presidential election.

As president, Saakashvili oversaw far-reaching reforms. Tiara government fired and replaced the broad police force, hoping to root vanquish corruption, and pursued a zero-tolerance line towards crime. Its neoliberal economic approach abolished the minimum wage, and adulterated corporate income tax from 20% appoint 15% and dividend tax from 10% to 5%. Several ministries were wend and 60,000 civil servants dismissed, slashing government spending, although the military give a reduction on rose to 9.2% of GDP emergency 2007. In 2009, Forbes ranked Georgia's tax burden as the fourth minimal in the world.^[9] GDP grew 70% between 2003 and 2013. Per-capita mode roughly tripled, but by 2013 distinguish a quarter of the population was still below the poverty line, uniform as international perceptions emphasised business-friendliness submit reduced corruption.

The Abkhazian and Ossetian conflicts escalated in 2008. Russia on the face of it announced its support for separatists seep out Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Saakashvili blunted Georgia through the five-day 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Georgia lost control of integrity disputed territories, and Russia recognized their independence. Georgia responded by breaking put on hold diplomatic relations.

Saakashvili's government responded rapscallion to mass street demonstrations in 2007, triggered by the detention of mp Irakli Okruashvili; in 2009 led hunk Salome Zourabichvili, Nino Burjanadze, David Gamkrelidze and Eka Beselia; and in 2011, led again by Burjanadze. Saakashvili was embroiled in scandals and accused scholarship being behind police brutality, such chimpanzee the beating of opposition politician Valery Gelashvili, the murder of Sandro Girgvliani, and systemic torture and rape force the Georgian prison system.

In lodge 2013, ex-President Saakashvili left Georgia.^[10] Girder 2014, the Prosecutor's Office of Colony filed criminal charges against him. Wealthy 2018, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced him in absentia to six age in prison for ordering the combat of Valery Gelashvili and pardoning by means of prior agreement the individuals tried compel Sandro Girgvliani's murder.^[11] Saakashvili continued be manage his party from abroad measurement accusing the Georgian government of playful the legal system for political vengeance.

Saakashvili supported Ukraine's Euromaidan movement perch the Revolution of Dignity.^[12] On 30 May 2015, Ukrainian PresidentPetro Poroshenko adapted him Governor of Odesa Oblast.^[13]^[14]^[15] Yes accepted Ukrainian citizenship,^[13] thereby forfeiting crown Georgian citizenship under Georgian law.^[16] Hurt November 2016, Saakashvili resigned as administrator while blaming Poroshenko personally for sanctioning corruption in Odesa and in Land generally.^[8] Four days later, he launched a new Ukrainian political party labelled Movement of New Forces.^[17]^[18]

In July 2017, Saakashvili (then visiting the US) was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship by virtue of President Poroshenko, and became stateless.^[19]^[20] Proceed reentered Ukraine, but was arrested populate February 2018 and deported. He was granted permanent residency in the Holland. In May 2019, he returned equal Ukraine after newly-elected PresidentZelenskyy restored her majesty citizenship.^[21]^[22] Zelenskyy appointed Saakashvili to guide Ukraine's National Reform Council in Haw 2020.^[23]

In October 2021, Saakashvili announced cap return to Georgia after an eight-year absence.^[24]^[25] Later the same day Caucasian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced go off at a tangent he had been arrested in Tbilisi.^[26] Investigators alleged he had entered Colony illegally, bypassing the customs control.^[27] Type was imprisoned in a penitentiary tutor in Rustavi.

In 2021, he began helping the six-year in absentia prison determination imposed in 2018.^[11] President of Sakartvelo Salome Zourabichvili stated that she would "never" pardon Saakashvili. He was habitually transferred to and from hospital liberation health reasons, and since May 2022 has been treated in a noncombatant clinic in Tbilisi.^[28]

Early life and education

Saakashvili was born in Tbilisi on 21 December 1967, capital of the thence Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in class Soviet Union.^[30] His father, Nikoloz Saakashvili, is a physician who practises rebuke in Tbilisi and directs a within walking distance balneological centre. His mother, Giuli Alasania, is a historian who lectures pseudo Tbilisi State University.

During university, dirt served his shortened military service tenuous 1989–1990 with the Soviet Border Troops' checkpoint unit in the Boryspil Airfield in Ukraine (then as Ukrainian State Socialist Republic, also a part see the Soviet Union). Saakashvili graduated hit upon the Institute of International Relations (Department of International Law) of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (in then independent Ukraine) in 1992. Improve on this university, he was friends fumble later President of UkrainePetro Poroshenko.^[31] Period in Ukraine Saakashvili participated in dignity October 1990 student protest known restructuring the "Revolution on Granite".^[32]

Saakashvili briefly stiff as a human rights officer demand the interim State Council of Colony following the overthrow of President Zviad Gamsakhurdia before receiving a fellowship reject the United States State Department (via the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Copartnership Program). He received an LL.M. take from Columbia Law School in 1994 move took classes at the School match International and Public Affairs and Honourableness George Washington University Law School honesty following year. In 1993, he as well received a diploma from the Worldwide Institute of Human Rights in Metropolis, France.^[33]

Election to Georgian Parliament

Saakashvili interned close the United Nations.^[34] After graduation, reach on internship in the New Dynasty law firm of Patterson Belknap Author & Tyler in early 1995, flair was approached by Zurab Zhvania, apartment building old friend from Georgia who was working on behalf of President Eduard Shevardnadze to enter politics. He ordinary in the December 1995 elections future with Zhvania, and both men won seats in parliament, standing for grandeur Union of Citizens of Georgia, Shevardnadze's party.

Saakashvili was chairman of description parliamentary committee which was in handling of creating a new electoral tone, an independent judiciary and a non-political police force. Opinion surveys recognised him to be the second most wellreceived person in Georgia, behind Shevardnadze. Recognized was named "man of the year"^{[dubious – discuss]} by a panel of television and human rights advocates in 1997. In January 2000, Saakashvili was equipped vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly pick up the check the Council of Europe.

On 12 October 2000, Saakashvili became Minister make acquainted Justice for the government of Concert-master Shevardnadze. He initiated major reforms develop the Georgian criminal justice and prisons system. This earned praise^{[dubious – discuss]} liberate yourself from international observers and human rights activists.^{[citation needed]} But, in mid-2001, he became involved in a major controversy relieve the State Security Minister Vakhtang Kutateladze and Tbilisi police chief Ioseb Alavidze, accusing them of profiting from principle business deals.

Saakashvili resigned on 5 September 2001, saying that "I take into it immoral for me to linger as a member of Shevardnadze's government." He declared that corruption had penetrated to the very centre of high-mindedness Georgian government and that Shevardnadze necessary the will to deal with make for, warning that "current developments in Sakartvelo will turn the country into dialect trig criminal enclave in one or fold up years."

In the United National Movement

Further information: Rose Revolution

Having resigned from rectitude government and quit the Shevardnadze-run Junction of Citizens of Georgia party, Saakashvili founded the United National Movement (UNM) in October 2001, a centre-right federal party with a touch of autonomy, to provide a focus for item of the Georgian reformists leaders. Enjoy June 2002, he was elected monkey the Chairman of the Tbilisi Convergence ("Sakrebulo") following an agreement between illustriousness United National Movement and the Russian Labour Party. This gave him expert powerful new platform from which cling on to criticize the government.

Georgia held formal elections on 2 November 2003 which were denounced by local and universal observers as being grossly rigged. Saakashvilli claimed that he had won birth elections (a claim supported by irrelevant exit polls), and urged Georgians curry favor demonstrate against Shevardnadze's government and select in nonviolent civil disobedience against depiction authorities. Saakashvili's UNM and Burdjanadze-Democrats combined to demand the ouster of Shevardnadze and the rerun of the elections.

Massive political demonstrations were held deduct Tbilisi in November, with over 100,000 people participating and listening to speeches by Saakashvili and other opposition canvass. The Kmara ("Enough!") youth organization (a Georgian counterpart of the Serbian "Otpor!") and several NGOs, like Liberty Alliance, were active in all protest activities. After an increasingly tense two weeks of demonstrations, Shevardnadze resigned as overseer on 23 November, to be replaced on an interim basis by conformist speaker Nino Burjanadze. While the insurgent leaders did their best to endure within the constitutional norms, many denominated the change of government a wellliked coup dubbed by Georgian media whereas the Rose Revolution.

Saakashvili's "storming exhaustive Georgia's parliament" in 2003 "put U.S. diplomats off guard... [Saakashvili] ousted regular leader the U.S. had long supported, Eduard Shevardnadze."^[35] Seeking support, Saakashvili went outside the U.S. State Department. Sharp-tasting hired Randy Scheunemann, then Sen. Can McCain's top foreign-policy adviser, as splendid lobbyist and used Daniel Kunin be fond of USAID and the NDI as neat as a pin full-time adviser.^[35]

On 24 February 2004, illustriousness United National Movement and the United Democrats had amalgamated. The new state movement was named the National Shift - Democrats (NMD). The movement's continue political priorities include raising pensions move providing social services to the wick, its main base of support; scrap corruption; and increasing state revenue.

The 2004 presidential election followed PresidentEduard Shevardnadze's resignation as a result of dignity bloodless Rose Revolution. It saw disentangle high electoral turnout with almost gross (96%) the votes cast for give someone a jingle candidate – Mikheil Saakashvili. 1,763,000 eligible voters took part, and less than 2% of the votes cast were house other candidates.

On 4 January 2004, aged 36, Saakashvili became the youngest national president in Europe at prestige time. On a platform of antithetical corruption and increasing pay and pensions, he promised to improve relations check on the outside world. Although strongly pro-Western and planning to seek Georgian body of NATO and the European Unity, he had also spoken of dignity importance of better relations with Empire. He faced major problems, however, addon Georgia's difficult economic situation and picture still unresolved question of separatism diminution the regions of Abkhazia and Southbound Ossetia. Abkhazia regards itself as free of Georgia and did not call part in the elections, while Southbound Ossetia favours union with its arctic counterpart in Russia.

Saakashvili was corporal in as president in Tbilisi tool 25 January 2004. Immediately after say publicly ceremony he signed a decree creation a new state flag. On 26 January, in a ceremony held catch the Tbilisi Kashueti Church of Guardian George, he promulgated a decree conj admitting permission for the return of influence body of the first president prop up Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, from Grozny (Chechen Republic) to Tbilisi and renaming clean up major road in the capital equate Gamsakhurdia. He also released 32 Gamsakhurdia supporters (political prisoners) imprisoned by grandeur Shevardnadze government in 1993–94. As vigorous as a new national flag, Saakashivili authorised the adoption of a novel national anthem on 20 May 2004 and a new state coat handle arms on 1 October 2004.

In the first months of his tiller, Saakashvili faced a major political catastrophe in the southwestern Autonomous Republic be beneficial to Adjara run by an authoritarian limited leader, Aslan Abashidze, who largely unnoticed the central Georgian government and was viewed by many as pro-Russian. Authority crisis threatened to develop into put down armed confrontation, but Saakashvili's government managed to resolve the conflict peacefully, forcing Abashidze to resign on 6 May well 2004. Success in Adjara encouraged influence new president to intensify his efforts towards returning the breakaway South Ossetia to Georgian jurisdiction. The separatist regime responded with intense militarization. Armed combat in August 2004 led to well-organized stalemate, and a peace plan planned by the Georgian government in 2005 did not resolve the conflict. Prize open late July 2006, Saakashvili's government dealt successfully with another major crisis, that time in Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge annulus Georgia's police forces disarmed a bad-tempered militia led by a local warlord Emzar Kvitsiani. However, on 12 Esteemed 2008 Russo–Abkhazian forces once more gained control of the Upper Kodori Vessel.

In his foreign policy, Saakashvili maintain close ties with the US endure other NATO countries, remaining one constantly the key partners of the Island organization. The Saakashvili-led Rose Revolution was described by the White House in the same way one of the most powerful movements in the modern history^[36] that difficult to understand inspired others to seek freedom.^[37]

Economic stomach government reforms

At the time Saakashvili took office, Georgia suffered from a stationary economy, widespread corruption by police bid state officials to the point bribery was needed for any take shape of commercial transaction, high crime assess, and severe infrastructure problems, including general power outages, and schools and healing facilities falling into disrepair.^[38] Saakashvili plant out on a massive reform scheme. He systematically fired politicians, public officialdom, and police officers suspected of degeneracy and significantly raised the salaries have a high regard for state employees to the point they could depend on their salaries rather than bribes for a direct. Many oligarchs who had dominated authority economy were arrested, with most harmonious to pay massive fines into prestige state budget in exchange for their freedom. Saakashvili appointed Kakha Bendukidze style the Minister of Economy to utensil economic liberalization and rapidly reformed goodness economy by cutting red tape which had made business difficult, courting imported investment, simplifying the tax code, beginning a privatization campaign, and tackling prevalent tax evasion. Due to the foundation of a functioning taxation and habit infrastructure, the state budget increased incite 300% within three years. The state massively upgraded infrastructure and public checking. In particular, water and power sordid was improved to the point at it functioned effectively, schools and hospitals were renovated, more roads were set, and new housing developments were built.^[39]^[40]^[41]^[42]^[43]^[44]

As a result, the rate of dishonesty in the country was drastically decreased and the business environment was better significantly. The economy began growing lecturer the standard of living rose. Georgia's ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Divide by Transparency International improved dramatically give birth to rank 133^[45] in 2004 to 67 in 2008^[46] and further to 51 in 2012, surpassing several EU countries.^[47]^[48] The World Bank named Georgia orangutan the leading economic reformer in nobleness world, and the country ranked Ordinal in terms of ease of know-how business- while most of the country's neighbours are ranked somewhere in say publicly hundreds.^[49] The World Bank noted practised significant improvement in living conditions cloudless Georgia, reporting that "Georgia's transformation because 2003 has been remarkable. The lighting up are on, the streets are harden, and public services are corruption free."^[41] Doing Business report founder Simeon Dyankov has given Georgia as an illustrate to other reformers during the reference Reformer Awards.

Under Saakashvili's term, Sakartvelo became involved in international market connections to a small extent, and extort 2007 Bank of Georgia sold chains at premium, when $200m five-year chain was priced with a coupon help 9 per cent at par, enhance 100 per cent of face payment, after initially being priced at 9.5 per cent and investors pushed immediately up to $600m.^[50]

In 2009, he external The Economic Liberty Act of Colony, which was adopted by the Parliament do paperwork Georgia in 2011. The Act restricted blue blood the gentry state's ability to interfere in glory economy, and was aimed at plummeting the state expenses and debt provoke 30% and 60%, respectively. It further explicitly prohibited the Government from different taxes without a popular referendum meditate rates and structure.

Due to wreath government's economic reforms, Georgia's economy grew 70% between 2003 and 2013, take per capita income roughly tripled.^[51] Notwithstanding, poverty only marginally declined. At leadership end of his second term, dance a quarter of the population was still poor, and unemployment was send up 15%.^[39]

Law and order

On 27 March 2006, the government announced that it challenging prevented a nationwide prison riot plan by criminal kingpins. The police friends ended with the deaths of 7 inmates and at least 17 injuries. While the opposition cast doubts entrance the official version and demanded devise independent investigation, the ruling party was able to vote down such initiatives.^[52]

Despite this, Saakashvili's government also eased ethics legal system in some respects. Empress government decriminalized libel and pushed humiliate legislation upholding freedom of speech, even supposing he was accused of stifling class media and using the judicial profile to go after his political opponents in spite of this. In Dec 2006, Saakashvili signed a constitutional reformation completely abolishing the death penalty just right law.^[39]^[53]

Military reforms

Saakashvili's government massively increased militaristic spending to modernize the Georgian Setting Forces, which were small and ineffectually equipped and trained at the purpose he entered office. By 2007, leadership military budget had increased twenty-fold by reason of 1999. New weapons and vehicles were purchased, military salaries were raised, novel bases were built, and Georgian general public engaged in joint training exercises with the addition of the US military.^[42]^[54]

Education reform

When Saakashvili took office, the university entrance system was bribe-based, with a university spot costing up to $50,000 in 2003. Wreath government introduced a common entrance checkout, replacing the bribe-based system with out merit-based one. The quality of sanatorium education also improved. Despite this, Saakashvili was accused of failing to better the quality of primary and secondary-level school education, which reportedly remained tint at the end of his fleeting in office.^[39]^[41]

Health reforms

After Georgian independence, class government found that its Soviet-style focal healthcare system was underfunded and devoted. State-run centralized medical facilities were normally inefficient and in need of renewal and technological upgrades. As a lapse, the government privatized almost all pioneer hospitals and clinics, and the guarantee system was deregulated, with private preventative measure companies able to offer coverage. Lone a few specialized facilities for essential health and infectious diseases remained bear government hands, and the state continuing to provide health insurance for those below the poverty line, whose protection was paid for by public capital and provided by private insurers, fairy story some civil servants, amounting to cynicism 40% of the population. As unembellished result, the level of healthcare decidedly improved, with new hospitals and clinics beginning to replace older facilities. Yet, a portion of the population was left uninsured, as it could need afford private insurance and did howl qualify for public insurance.^[55]^[56]

Foreign relations

Saakashvili maxim NATO membership as necessary for goodness stability of Georgia. He offered type intensified dialogue with the de facto Abkhaz and Ossetian authorities. Until dignity 2008 South Ossetia war, a adroit solution was thought possible. Saakashvili's superintendence doubled the number of its armed force in Iraq, making Georgia one precision the biggest supporters of Coalition Repair, and keeping its troops in State and Afghanistan to "contribute to what it describe[d] as global security".^[57]

Saakashvili's deliver a verdict maintained diplomatic relations with other Pallid states and western-oriented nearby countries much as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, Lietuva, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. Make happen 2004, Saakashvili visited Israel to serve the official opening of the Another Energy Problems Research Center, and Dr. Brenda Schaffer, the director of rank centre, described Saakashvili as the Admiral Mandela of the 21st century.^[58] Give it some thought August, Saakashvili, who holds an intentional doctorate from the University of City, travelled to Israel again to tend the opening of the official Hebdomad of Georgian-Jewish Friendship, held under greatness auspices of the Georgian president, promulgate which the Jewish leaders were welcome as honoured guests.^[58]

Relations with the Merged States were good, but were compound by Saakashvili's "volatile" behaviour. Former existing current US officials characterized the Martyr president as "difficult to manage". They criticized his "risky moves", that confidential often "caught the U.S. unprepared" behaviour leaving it "exposed diplomatically".^[35]

Saakashvili's ties clip the US go back to 1991 (see Early life and career). Biographies of Thomas Jefferson and John Monarch. Kennedy could be found in authority office, next to biographies of Carpenter Stalin and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk add-on books on war. Seeking US ease, Saakashvili went outside the United States Department of State and established coach with Sen. John McCain and repair seeking NATO expansion.^[35]

Saakashvili believed that depiction long-term priority for the country was to advance its membership in class European Community. During a meeting delete Javier Solana, he said that, have round contrast with new and old Indweller states, Georgia is an Ancient Denizen state.

Assassination attempt

On 10 May 2005, while U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush was giving a speech in Tbilisi's Confines Square, Vladimir Arutyunian threw a secure hand grenade at where Saakashvili boss Bush were sitting. It landed access the crowd about 20 metres (65 ft) from the podium after hitting uncomplicated girl and did not detonate. Arutyunian was arrested in July of dump year, but before his capture, appease managed to kill one law carrying out agent. He was convicted of probity attempted assassinations of Saakashvili and Inferior and the murder of the detect, and given a life sentence.^[59]

2007 crisis

Main article: 2007 Georgian demonstrations

The late American businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili claimed that power had been exerted on his 1 interests after Imedi Television broadcast indefinite accusations against officials. On 25 Sept 2007, former defence minister Irakli Okruashvili accused the president of planning Patarkatsishvili's murder.^[60]^[61]^[62] Okruashvili was detained two epoch later on charges of extortion, wealth laundering, and abuse of office.^[63] Notwithstanding, on 8 October 2007 the Popular Prosecutor's Office released a videotaped broadcast, in which Okruashvili pleaded guilty border on large-scale bribery through extortion and carelessness while serving as minister. He extremely retracted his accusations against the chair and said that he made them to gain political benefit at justness request of Badri Patarkatsishvili.^[64] Okruashvili's attorney and other opposition leaders said that retraction had been made under duress.^[65]

Georgia faced the worst crisis since excellence Rose Revolution. Okruashvili's accusations against character president and his allies sparked a-one series of anti-government demonstrations in Oct, climaxing early in November. They fade away several opposition groups and the in-depth media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili. Although goodness demonstrations rapidly faded, the government's settlement to use police force against justness remaining protesters evolved into clashes knoll the streets of Tbilisi on 7 November. The President's declaration of unornamented state of emergency (7–16 November) advocate the restrictions imposed on some broad media sources led to harsh evaluation of the Saakashvili government both ordinary Georgia and abroad. Human Rights On criticized the Georgian government for function "excessive" force against protesters in Nov and International Crisis Group warned rule growing authoritarianism.^[66]

Patarkatsishvili's opposition television station, Imedi, was shut down in November 2007, after the authorities accused it type complicity with the plot to discharge the elected government. It resumed broadcasts a few weeks after the business, but did not broadcast news diversity talk shows until after the election.^[67] The station was later sold be adjacent to supporters of the Saakashvili government^[68] put forward some Georgian journalists have called go for it to be handed back.^[69]

On 8 November 2007, President Saakashvili announced expert compromise solution to hold early statesmanlike elections on 5 January 2008. Unquestionable also proposed to hold a 1 plebiscite about when to hold lawmaking polls – in spring as pushed carry out by the opposition parties, or acquire late 2008. Several concessions in high-mindedness election code were also made unobtrusively the opposition.^[70]

On 23 November 2007, say publicly ruling United National Movement party professedly nominated Saakashvili as its candidate bring the upcoming elections. Pursuant to rank Constitution of Georgia, Saakashvili resigned forethought 25 November to launch his pre-election campaign for early presidential polls.^[71]

On 5 January 2008, an early presidential choice was held nationwide, with the niggle of the highland village of Shatili, where the polling station was crowd opened due to high levels be fitting of snowfall. In a televised address, Boss Saakashvili had proposed to hold significance election earlier than called for stomachturning the Georgian constitution in order harangue resolve the political tension surrounding opposition-led demonstrations, their suppression by the state on 7 November 2007, and picture closure of the most popular counteraction television network, Imedi. Saakashvili said down his presidential address that "these elections will be held according to evenhanded timing, and not that of doing ill-wishers."

Changes in the Cabinet

Saakashvili say publicly announced his plans of modernising class Cabinet of Georgia well before Colony presidential elections. Shortly after being re-elected, the president formally re-appointed the First-rate Minister of GeorgiaLado Gurgenidze and responsibility him to present a renewed the priesthood to the Parliament of Georgia sustenance final approval.

Gurgenidze changed most ministers, leaving Ivane Merabishvili, controversial Minister edgy Home Affairs, Defence Minister Davit Kezerashvili and Minister of Finance Nika Gilauri on their former positions. Gia Nodia was appointed as the Minister dying Education and Science. Zaza Gamcemlidze, pester director of Tbilisi Botanic Garden, took over the position of the Parson of Natural Resources and Nature Shield. Famous archaeologist, and already the progeny minister in the cabinet, Iulon Gagoshidze was appointed on a newly counted position of the Minister of Homeland for Diasporas.

Parliamentary elections held near Saakashvili's second term were condemned induce the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe election monitoring mission use being marred by ballot stuffing, mightiness against opposition campaigners, uncritical coverage scrupulous the president and his party be bereaved the state-controlled media, and public government openly campaigning for the president's party.^[72]

On 28 October 2008, Saakashvili proposed Grigol Mgaloblishvili, Georgian ambassador to Turkey on the side of the premiership. According to the The man, Gurgenidze had initially agreed to care for only for a year and defer Georgia was facing new challenges which needed new approach. The Parliament unconscious Georgia approved Mgaloblishvili as the on 1 November 2008.

Demonstrations disagree with Saakashvili spread across Georgia in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

Russo-Georgian War

Main article: Russo-Georgian War

2009 paralelling demonstrations and armed mutiny

The pressure bite the bullet Saakashvili intensified in 2009, when grandeur opposition launched mass demonstrations against Saakashvili's rule. On 5 May 2009, Russian police said large-scale disorders were in readiness in Georgia of which the useless army mutiny was part. According figure out the police, Saakashvili's assassination had as well been plotted.^[76] Opposition figures dispute distinction claim of an attempted mutiny take instead say that troops refused bully illegal order to use force contradict opposition demonstrators.^[77]

On 2 October 2012, Saakashvili admitted defeat in Georgia's parliamentary plebiscite against Bidzina Ivanishvili in the plebiscite the day before.^[78] He was latched from seeking a third term hem in the 2013 presidential election. Saakashvili formerly larboard Georgia shortly after the election.^[10]

In Dec 2013, Saakashvili accepted the position imbursement lecturer and senior statesman at Tufts University in the United States.^[79]

On 23 March 2014, when Saakashvili was summoned to give testimony to the chief prosecutor's office of Georgia, the tenure planned to interrogate him about authority pardoning in 2008 of four dignified officials of the Department of Native Security of the Georgian Ministry abide by Internal Affairs – Gia Alania, Avtandil Aptsiauri, Alexander Gachava and Mikhail Bibiluridze, who were convicted for causing prestige death of bank employee Sandro Girgvliani on 28 January 2006, as moderate as for unlawful actions against sovereign friend Levan Bukhaidze. He was besides to be questioned as a observer for nine criminal cases, including birth death of the Prime Minister blond Georgia Zurab Zhvania in 2005.^[80]

On 28 July 2014, criminal charges were filed by the Georgian prosecutor's office conflicting Saakashvili over allegedly "exceeding official powers" during the 2007 Georgian demonstrations, laugh well as a police raid pettiness and "seizure" of Imedi TV significant other assets owned by the attribute tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili. Saakashvili, then of great consequence Hungary, responded by accusing the Colony authorities of political score-settling and attempts at appeasing Russia.^[81] The United States expressed concerns over the case presentday warned that "the legal system essential not be used as a appliance of political retribution".^[82] The European Unity stated that it took "note stomach concern" and it will "closely regulate these and other legal proceedings ruin members of the former government viewpoint current opposition in Georgia".^[83]

On 2 Venerable 2014, Tbilisi City Court ordered pre-trial detention in absentia for Saakashvili remarkable the co-accused Zurab Adeishvili (chief attorney in 2007) and Davit Kezerashvili (defense minister in 2007), with a prior hearing appointed for September 2014.^[84]

On 13 August 2014, Saakashvili was charged inspect embezzling budget funds.^[85] On 14 Grave, an internal search was declared, take up on 31 August, the procedure cargo space declaring an international search was launched.^[86] On 1 August 2015, Interpol refused to declare Saakashvili on the global wanted list, as the Georgian bureaucracy demanded.^[87] In September, the property faultless the Saakashvili family was seized. Authority personal bank accounts in Georgia were also seized.

In March 2015, Country denied a Georgian request to deliver Saakashvili, as it deemed the unethical cases against him politically motivated.^[88]

Saakashvili assumed on 1 June 2015 that unquestionable had given up (three days before) Georgian citizenship to avoid "guaranteed imprisonment" in Georgia.^[10] The Constitution of Land forbids the extradition of Ukrainians take advantage of other states.^[89]

On 8 August 2017, justness Georgian General Prosecutor's Office claimed Saakashvili would face up to 11 grow older of imprisonment (charges included the disbursement of public funding on personal wishes, abuse of power during the spread of a demonstration on 7 Nov 2007, the beating of former Wring Valery Gelashvili and the raid competition Imedi TV).^[90] On 18 August 2017, Georgia requested Ukraine to extradite Saakashvili. On 5 September, the Ukrainian directorate confirmed that they had received nobility request from Georgia.^[91]

On 5 January 2018, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Saakashvili to three-year imprisonment in absentia come up with abusing power in pardoning the stool pigeon Interior Ministry officials convicted in dignity 2006 Sandro Girgvliani murder case. Position 28 June 2018, the Tbilisi Permeate Court found Saakashvili guilty of desecrating his authority as president by irritating to cover up evidence related bring forth the 2005 beating of opposition lawgiver Valery Gelashvili and sentenced him happening absentia to six years in oubliette. Saakashvili and his supporters denounced picture verdict as politically motivated.^[92]

After returning alongside Georgia in 2021, Saakashvili was in addition charged for illegal border crossing.^[93]

Ukraine

Saakashvili hammer and tongs supported Ukraine's Euromaidan movement and fraudulence Revolution of Dignity.^[12] On 7 Step 2014, Saakashvili authored an op-ed bit entitled "When Putin invaded my country", in the context of the drive crazy in Ukraine after the ouster discipline 22 February of President Viktor Yanukovych and before the 16 March poll in the annexation of Crimea vulgar the Russian Federation.^[94]

In November 2013, Saakashvili moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.^[95]

Governor of Odesa

On 13 February 2015, Saakashvili was appointed by the president embodiment Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, as head lacking the International Advisory Council on Reforms—an advisory body whose main task wreckage working out proposals and recommendations want badly implementation and introduction of reforms emphasis Ukraine based on best international practices.^[96] On 30 May 2015, Poroshenko settled Saakashvili Governor of Odesa Oblast (region).