Ex-President Saakashvili lashes out at opposition rivals: Ambitious imbeciles forming cliques, not real parties

Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili launched an attack on rival opposition figures during his trial at Tbilisi City Court today over the crackdown on the 7 November 2007 anti-government protests.

Appearing in person at the hearing, the imprisoned former leader rejected the political status quo under ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili while dismissing newly formed opposition groups as “cliques” led by “ambitious imbeciles”.

“A few years ago, I took a genetic test. After being called Armenian so many times, I took the test and turned out to be fully Georgian; though this is not an ethnic matter. The people living on Georgia’s land today have never been cowards or slaves. Servility and submission are simply not in the genetic code of the people here. Above all, Georgia has never been the private property of a single family. What even the Bagrationi dynasty failed to achieve, how on earth is Ivanishvili supposed to pull off? Even they never claimed that Georgia was entirely their personal property,” Saakashvili told the court.

Turning his focus to rival opposition figures and political newcomers, Saakashvili expressed frustration at those attempting to replace his political legacy while he remains in prison.

“They believe in fair elections without understanding how an unfair system actually operates. Meanwhile, a swarm of ambitious imbeciles remains in this society, hysterically launching political parties. These aren’t parties; they are mere cliques. Apparently, these imbeciles genuinely believe that existing parties will be banned, that they will step up to the forefront and take their place—that I will remain in prison or, as many dream, be banished from the country, while some Kipiani or Kibrotsashvili or some other imbecile becomes the new Misha,” Saakashvili asserted.

The trial centres on allegations of official abuse of power regarding the violent dispersal of the 7 November 2007 protest rally, the raid on the Imedi TV broadcasting station, and the expropriation of Mtatsminda Park. Alongside Saakashvili, former high-ranking officials Davit Kezerashvili, Zurab Adeishvili, Gigi Ugulava, and Vano Merabishvili face charges in connection with the case.