Saakashvili announces his return to Georgia

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili is planning to arrive in Georgia and again involve in the political processes. Saakashvili announced his intention on one of the Georgian TV “Rustavi 2”. According to him, he plans to participate in upcoming October elections.

“I plan to return to Georgia. No one should doubt or see my decision as a threat, this is a natural process. During upcoming months in Georgian new political elite will be formed and it will be enriched with many new interesting people”, – he said.

In October 2016, the parliamentary election will be held in Georgia. Saakashvili’s party United National Movement is going to participate in it. But it is not clear whether Mikhail Saakashvili will really return to Georgia before elections or not.

The member of United National Movement and proponent of Saakashvili, Mikhail Machavariani said that ex-president is political refugee and he will certainly be back to Georgia:

“Despite the fact that Saakashvili does not have Georgian citizenship anymore, we consider him as our leader. We have consultations with him very often about important issues. He will be back to Georgia as many others immediately after lifting accusations against him”.

According to some Georgian political analysts, statement of Saakashvili about his returning is unreal.

“His statement is a part of political technologies. On one hand, it is directed to the consolidation to his supporters, also he tries to create a legend about his involvement in Georgia’s political processes that is very important for voters. On the other hand, he tries to disorganize his political opponents”, – Gia Khukhashvili said.

Mikhail Saakashvili left Georgia in 2013 after he lost elections and post of president. Then he was accused of abuse of power related to dispersal of protest rally and in a crackdown on TV station Imedi in 2007. Nearly a year ago he was appointed as a governor of Odessa, Ukraine. Later he also received Ukrainian citizenship.

Report: Tamta JIJAVADZE – Georgia