Mikheil Saakashvili: Despite everything, I remain optimistic as 80% of people have come to their senses

“On October 1, 2012, I democratically handed over power. On October 1, 2021, those to whom I had handed over power threw me into prison. Today marks the fifth anniversary of a historic disgrace for Georgia—my imprisonment by fellow ethnic Georgians,” former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili writes on social media.

According to Saakashvili, it was his love for the country and his desire to save it that brought him back to Georgia in 2021.

“Many ask why I came back—let me explain: my greatest strength and my greatest weakness is my love for Georgia. I simply could not bear watching my country’s destruction from afar; a sense of responsibility is what brought me back. I returned because I was convinced we were hurtling toward a massive national catastrophe. This process began in 2012 but accelerated rapidly after 2020, and I could not have forgiven myself had I not at least tried to awaken our people and save the country—even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

Over these past five years, I have twice come very close to death. I have been tortured and poisoned; they constantly try to humiliate me and restrict me in every possible way. What matters most in all of this is that it is being done at the behest of the occupier—something Putin, Medvedev, and Lavrov state openly—and this is happening despite the fact that I am entirely in the right before my people and completely innocent under the law.

Yet, throughout this time, I have been burdened by a profound sense of guilt—guilt toward Ukraine for being unable to help as I should, guilt toward my mother, for whom I became a burden, toward Sopho and my loved ones, and, most importantly, toward my children.

It deeply distresses me that Alisa —ever since she learned to speak—constantly talks about me; she wakes up at night calling out for me and suffers terribly from my absence. It hurts that I could not personally take her to kindergarten or, now, to school; that I cannot personally take her to music lessons, French classes, or figure skating; and that I cannot fulfill my promise to take her to Disneyland. It troubles me that she constantly has to hear talk of politics and is well-versed in all the political details at the age of six—which is not normal.

I have been held in unjust captivity for five years now. Until recently, I consoled myself with the fact that my favorite writer, Cervantes, and my closest friend and political ally, John McCain, were also held captive for five years. Now, I am moving into the league of the Count of Monte Cristo and Nelson Mandela; yet, despite everything, I am more optimistic than ever—because 80% of the people have come to realize the truth and are stepping onto the stage to take a decisive stand.

The idealistic ‘Misha generation’—along with my struggle and ideas—is more relevant than ever; meanwhile, Russia is facing defeat. So, I know for certain that this ‘spirit of the doomed’ will not have been in vain.

No pasarán! Fight—and you shall prevail! Georgians will reclaim their country!! Alisa will get her daddy back!!” Saakashvili writes.