Saakashvili: I’m imprisoned because I am a creator of a modern Georgian state

Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who is now serving his sentence in Georgia, says ahead of today’s rally of opposition parties in central Tbilisi that he is imprisoned because he ‘created a modern Georgian state, boosted the country’s economy, increased pensions, made a country an international player and ensured strong state institutions.’ 

Saakashvili, now a citizen of Ukraine, says that he returned after eight years in political exile ‘because I saw that the country stopped development.’ 

“My choice is simple: death or freedom,” Saakashvili said. 

He has encouraged the public for street protests to ‘force the Georgian Dream government’ accept a dialogue with the opposition and schedule a snap parliamentary election. 

Opposition has plans to hold a rally in central Tbilisi today, at 18:00, where they will demand the release of Saakashvili. 

Today is Saakashvili’s birthday. 

He is serving his sentence for abuse of power and is charged with five other offenses. 

Saakashvili claims that he is a political prisoner.