**Former President Saakashvili Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison**
The Tbilisi City Court has announced its verdict in the case of former President Mikheil Saakashvili and the former head of the Special State Protection Service, Teimuraz Janashia. The two were accused of embezzling a large amount of government money.
Saakashvili was sentenced to 9 years in prison for his role in the alleged scheme. His co-defendant, Janashia, was fined 300,000 Georgian Lari (GEL).
The prosecution claimed that Saakashvili and Janashia embezzled around 9 million GEL from the government.
**Courtroom Chaos**
Saakashvili’s supporters were present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. They began chanting slogans against Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili, calling him “Bidzina’s slave”. This is a reference to billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is often seen as a powerful figure behind the scenes of Georgian politics.
One person, Zviad Kuprava, was even thrown out of the courtroom for disrupting the proceedings.
**Neither Defendant Was Present**
It’s worth noting that neither Saakashvili nor Janashia were present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. According to the judge, Saakashvili had requested a postponement until he recovered and refused to join the session remotely.
