Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia’s former president, has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for embezzlement, local media report. His downfall began in October 2021 when he slipped back into Georgia during an election, only to be swiftly arrested. Authorities charged him with abuse of power, embezzlement, and other crimes from his 2004-2013 presidency.
The latest conviction stems from the so-called “suits and bouquets” scandal, where Saakashvili allegedly squandered $3.2 million in state funds on luxury clothing, watches, his son’s education, and even cosmetic treatments. Meanwhile, his former security chief, Teimuraz Janashia, got off with just a small fine.
Saakashvili’s tenure remains controversial. In 2008, he ordered an attack on South Ossetia, sparking a brief war with Russia. His presidency also saw violent crackdowns on dissent. When his term ended, he fled the country, later reinventing himself as the governor of Ukraine’s Odessa Region. That, too, ended in scandal, as he resigned, accusing Kyiv of rampant corruption.
Now behind bars, Saakashvili’s health has reportedly deteriorated, adding yet another chapter to his dramatic political saga.
