31 May 2019, 13:54
Georgian GPO reminds Saakashvili of extradition threat
Mikhail Saakashvili, who has returned to Ukraine, said that he would soon arrive in Georgia, where he had been sentenced under several cases and will be held responsible, the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Georgia has stated.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 28, the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, signed a decree on the return of Ukrainian citizenship to the former President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili. Roman Gotsiridze, an MP from the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party, believes that Saakashvili's return to Ukraine means his speedy return to Georgia.
The former president of Georgia may be extradited to his homeland if he continues his oppositional activities, Stanislav Fedorchuk, a Ukrainian political analyst, believes. Saakashvili's extradition will cause disapproval of the West and mass protests in Georgia, Georgian political analysts, Nika Chitadze and Gela Vasadze, are sure.
The GPO is holding procedures for Saakashvili's extradition, said Koki Katsitadze, a GPO's prosecutor.
"Saakashvili will have to be brought before Georgian justice and be held accountable for the crimes for which he was convicted," Mr Katsitadze said on air of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company.
On January 5, 2018, a Tbilisi court found Saakashvili guilty of abuse of power in pardoning convicts for killing the businessman, Sandro Girgvliani, and sentenced him to three years in prison. In June 2018, the court also sentenced Saakashvili in absentia to six years in prison for beating up Valery Gelashvili, an MP.
Saakashvili believes that Georgian authorities do not want his extradition. He has assured his supporters in Georgia that he would surely return to the country of his own free will.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 31, 2019 at 02:51 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Galina Gotua, Inna Kukudjanova Source: CK correspondents
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