Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been transferred from the Vivamedi clinic back to prison after more than two years of treatment.
The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service announced the decision late on Nov. 12, saying it was based on a medical evaluation confirming that Saakashvili’s condition is now “satisfactory.”
“Since convict Mikheil Saakashvili’s health condition is satisfactory and he no longer requires inpatient treatment, he has been discharged from the civilian clinic and returned to Penitentiary Establishment Nov. 12, where he will continue serving his sentence under general rules,” the statement said.
Saakashvili, who served as Georgia’s president from 2004 to 2013, was arrested on Oct. 1, 2021, the day he returned to the country from Ukraine ahead of local elections.
He has been convicted in several criminal cases and sentenced to a total of 12 years and 6 months in prison. His supporters and many Western officials have repeatedly described his prosecution as politically motivated.
The ex-president began a prolonged hunger strike shortly after his arrest, which caused a severe decline in his health. Over the following months, he was moved between several medical facilities – first a prison clinic, then the Gori Military Hospital, and eventually the Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi, where he had remained since May 12, 2022.
Political backlash and international tension
Saakashvili’s health and imprisonment have long been a source of domestic and international controversy, sparking protests, political debate, and concerns from European and American officials about his treatment.
His return to prison is expected to renew pressure on Georgia’s justice system and its commitment to democratic and European standards, particularly given the recent escalation in political tensions. Saakashvili and several other top opposition figures were recently charged with plotting to overthrow the government and sabotage (an accusation that came just days before this transfer).
The “jackets case” and total sentence
On March 12, Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili sentenced Saakashvili to nine years in prison in the so-called “jackets case,” which centers on the alleged misappropriation of state funds.
According to prosecutors, Saakashvili and his associates spent about 9 million Georgian lari (approximately $3.2 million) from the state budget between 2009 and 2012. The funds, officially allocated to the Special State Protection Service, were allegedly used for personal expenses – including luxury hotels, spa visits, cosmetic treatments and designer clothing – for Saakashvili, his close allies, friends, and family.
In 2018, Saakashvili was convicted in absentia of abuse of power and sentenced to six years in prison. After his arrest upon returning from Ukraine in 2021, his combined sentences now extend his imprisonment until 2030.