Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili was sentenced on Wednesday to nine more years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement, the Interpress news agency reported.
Saakashvili, who was president from 2004 to 2013, was jailed for six years for abuse of power after he returned to Georgia in 2021 after a spell abroad. He has spent much of that sentence in a prison hospital.
Georgian television showed scenes of commotion in the courtroom after the verdict was announced, with Saakashvili supporters calling the judge a "slave" of the present government.
A deeply polarising figure in Georgia today, Saakashvili rose to power on a tide of popular acclaim in the 2003 Rose Revolution.
In power, he reorientated Georgia towards the West and embarked on an ambitious public sector reform program that delivered rapid improvements in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million.
However, the latter part of his tenure was marked by authoritarianism, police brutality, and a disastrous 2008 war with Russia.
In 2012, his United National Movement party lost an election to a coalition headed by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire businessman who remains Georgia's de facto leader to this day.
After leaving office, Saakashvili moved to Ukraine, where he briefly served as governor of the southern Odesa region.
In 2021, he returned to Georgia, despite having been convicted in absentia of abuse of power. He was arrested and jailed on arrival.
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, one of the most trusted branches of American defense analysis, has released its annual global threat assessment — and Georgia is firmly on its radar.
Georgia celebrated its 107th Independence Day on May 26 with patriotic festivities in Tbilisi, featuring military parades, aerial demonstrations, and speeches by top officials to honor the nation’s independence.
An exhibition of Azerbaijani and Turkmen carpets and handicrafts has opened in Tbilisi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions of both nations.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV on Monday at the Vatican, the president announced earlier today.
Armenian alcohol producers rallied outside the Georgian Embassy in Yerevan, demanding answers over prolonged border delays they say are blocking exports to Russia and causing major financial losses.
At least 21 people, including children, have died in floods triggered by heavy rains in Nigeria’s Niger state, officials said.
Think tanks from across the Turkic world gathered in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the second edition of a major forum focused on regional cooperation, culture, and strategy.
Moroccan firefighters are battling wildfires for a fourth straight day in the Houara Forest near Tangier, as high temperatures and strong winds complicate efforts to contain the flames.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Singapore Thursday for the final stop of his Southeast Asia tour.
U.S. Treasury official Scott Bessent said several large trade deals are nearing completion and that a potential call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may be needed to resolve complex issues in ongoing talks.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's first visit to Central Asia has begun in Uzbekistan. In Samarkand, a high-level meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Italian officials resulted in the signing of several protocols and intergovernmental agreements.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed a high-level business delegation from the United Arab Emirates, highlighting deepening economic ties and future cooperation.
Kazakhstan launches Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer, signaling a bold step in its digital transformation and AI ambitions.
President Ilham Aliyev met with a member of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss bilateral ties and future cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States.
Astana just opened a new chapter for financial integration among Turkic states — President Tokayev chaired the first-ever meeting of Central Bank governors from member countries.
At least 21 people, including children, have died in floods triggered by heavy rains in Nigeria’s Niger state, officials said.
Think tanks from across the Turkic world gathered in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the second edition of a major forum focused on regional cooperation, culture, and strategy.
Moroccan firefighters are battling wildfires for a fourth straight day in the Houara Forest near Tangier, as high temperatures and strong winds complicate efforts to contain the flames.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Singapore Thursday for the final stop of his Southeast Asia tour.
U.S. Treasury official Scott Bessent said several large trade deals are nearing completion and that a potential call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may be needed to resolve complex issues in ongoing talks.
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