“If I were here today, the struggle on the streets of Tbilisi would be far more intense. This dictator knows that which is why he keeps me away from you,” said Georgia’s jailed ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili during his remote participation in today’s court hearing.

Saakashvili emphasized that his philosophy has always been centred on Georgia’s freedom. He accused the current government of preventing him from participating in the country’s political life, claiming they had imprisoned him and launched criminal cases against him to silence him and distort history.

“My entire philosophy has always been about empowering the citizens of Georgia. That’s why this new generation, raised without corruption, emerged. To those who hesitate to mention my name, I say: Let’s not rewrite history. If I were here today, the struggle in Tbilisi would be much more intense. This dictator knows that too, which is why I’m locked in prison. He kept me abroad and blocked my return for several years. These criminal cases were initiated to keep me out of the public eye, to prevent people from seeing me and hearing the truth about my government. Instead, they spread lies,” he said.

Reflecting on his time in office, he highlighted the significant progress made in cities like Batumi and Kutaisi, calling them “miracles.” He reaffirmed his belief that strong citizens are the foundation of a free and prosperous Georgia and warned that the current government is attempting to erase his achievements.

“My philosophy, now and always, has been the freedom of Georgia. It’s about strong citizens.

We must fight and dedicate ourselves. I have already shown you my commitment and struggle. Our task now is to preserve the genetic code of the Georgian nation and ensure it is never destroyed.

Friends, we don’t need more talk, now is the time to act,” Saakashvili stated.

He also noted that Georgia is losing its homeland and that unity is crucial in this situation. “We are being punished for the 9 years of glory, the golden age,” he said.

“We cannot turn back because we’ve already lost our homeland. We must fight to reclaim it. I’m not asking for anyone’s morality; everyone should reflect on their own heart. But we must understand that if we remain divided, we will be destroyed individually, while united, we can overcome this and rebuild a free, successful country—just as we did during that glorious golden age. At least the truth must be acknowledged: that was our golden age, and I am being punished for it, and Georgia is being punished for it. We will build even greater things, but for that, we need unity, strength, and resilience—again and again,” Saakashvili concluded.