Jailed ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili believes that Georgia, as never before, is close to losing independence and statehood.

According to Saakashvili, nothing makes sense if there is no freedom.

“I was much calmer in 2008 when Russia deployed on Tbilisi approaches. I was sure that nothing threatened Georgia’s independence because the Georgian people stood united, and the international community supported us. Now, we are cut off from world support, and they are trying to split and divide us.

Ronald Reagan said that at any time, America is one generation away from losing its freedom. This generation has been over for the last 30 years, and now we are losing independence. Now, the young generation took this flag.

I predicted in 2013, in my last presidential speech, that this generation would have its say. What is the priority of this generation? These youngsters do not ask what will be their place in independent Georgia. They ask if Georgia would be and where Georgia would be. They do not trivialize their careers and other personal selfish considerations because everyone will have an opportunity if there is freedom. If there is no freedom, nothing will make sense,” Saakashvili said via video link at his trial.