Tbilisi Court Sentences Georgian Ex-President Saakashvili to 3 Years in Absentia

A court in Tbilisi on Friday sentenced former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in absentia to three years in prison for abusing his power, within the framework of a murder case.


"The city court of Tbilisi has brought in the verdict of guilty in the case on abuse of power as for Mikheil Saakashvili and set four years in custody as a punishment measure that have been reduced by one quarter within the framework of the amnesty law and finally the [punishment measure] will stand at three years in custody," the statement published on the court's website said.

The court added that Saakashvili had pardoned high-ranking officials involved in the Girgvliani murder as a result relieving them of responsibility that violated the rights of the bank official's family and the state's interests, Sputnik reported.

Commenting on the court's decision, Mikheil Saakashvili said that the decision of the court was "illegal" and violated the international law.
 (Tasnim)