This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/536487-saakashvili-georgia-opposition-murder-plot/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| ‘He will serve his full term’: Georgian ex-leader Saakashvili plotted to KILL opposition figures to frame government, PM claims | ‘He will serve his full term’: Georgian ex-leader Saakashvili plotted to KILL opposition figures to frame government, PM claims |
| (17 days later) | |
| Mikhail Saakashvili had plotted to have Georgian opposition figures killed at mass protests after his return from exile, the prime minister said, vowing that the disgraced ex-president wouldn’t get out of serving his time in jail. | Mikhail Saakashvili had plotted to have Georgian opposition figures killed at mass protests after his return from exile, the prime minister said, vowing that the disgraced ex-president wouldn’t get out of serving his time in jail. |
| Irakli Garibashvili made the shocking allegation on Sunday in an interview with local broadcaster Imedi TV. He cited intelligence obtained by Georgia’s secret services stating that Saakashvili was seeking to appear during mass protests scheduled a day after his abrupt return to the country. | Irakli Garibashvili made the shocking allegation on Sunday in an interview with local broadcaster Imedi TV. He cited intelligence obtained by Georgia’s secret services stating that Saakashvili was seeking to appear during mass protests scheduled a day after his abrupt return to the country. |
| “During the culmination and mobilization of about 10,000 people – and they could probably have achieved that – the police would have had to move in to detain Saakashvili and possibly use special equipment,” Garibashvili said. | “During the culmination and mobilization of about 10,000 people – and they could probably have achieved that – the police would have had to move in to detain Saakashvili and possibly use special equipment,” Garibashvili said. |
| The killings would then have been used to “delegitimize our leadership” and secure foreign support, the PM said. “Afterwards, they would have demanded the government step down and extraordinary elections be held,” Garibashvili added. | The killings would then have been used to “delegitimize our leadership” and secure foreign support, the PM said. “Afterwards, they would have demanded the government step down and extraordinary elections be held,” Garibashvili added. |
| Saakashvili’s plan to stage mass protests on Saturday flopped, as he was arrested on Friday shortly after his return to his homeland – an arrival seemingly timed to coincide with the holding of local elections. Georgian police detained him immediately they located him, accusing him of entering the country illegally. | Saakashvili’s plan to stage mass protests on Saturday flopped, as he was arrested on Friday shortly after his return to his homeland – an arrival seemingly timed to coincide with the holding of local elections. Georgian police detained him immediately they located him, accusing him of entering the country illegally. |
| Even worse for the “pro-Western reformer” is the fact he had already been sentenced to a combined nine years in jail in absentia in 2013, when he fled the country. The subject of multiple criminal cases, Saakashvili was charged with abuse of power, particularly in connection with the violent crackdown on the opposition during his rule. | Even worse for the “pro-Western reformer” is the fact he had already been sentenced to a combined nine years in jail in absentia in 2013, when he fled the country. The subject of multiple criminal cases, Saakashvili was charged with abuse of power, particularly in connection with the violent crackdown on the opposition during his rule. |
| Saakashvili lost his Georgian nationality when he was granted Ukrainian citizenship to serve as the governor of the Odessa region under then-president Petro Poroshenko. However, on Sunday, Garibashvili ruled out any possibility of the former leader returning to Ukraine before serving his prison term in Georgia. | Saakashvili lost his Georgian nationality when he was granted Ukrainian citizenship to serve as the governor of the Odessa region under then-president Petro Poroshenko. However, on Sunday, Garibashvili ruled out any possibility of the former leader returning to Ukraine before serving his prison term in Georgia. |
| “We are talking about a man who has been president for nine years. This is a disaster and an insult: this man has voluntarily renounced the citizenship of our country,” the PM said. | “We are talking about a man who has been president for nine years. This is a disaster and an insult: this man has voluntarily renounced the citizenship of our country,” the PM said. |
| Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he has been relentlessly working to return Ukrainian citizens who got in trouble abroad, adding that Saakashvili – who also holds a senior post with Ukraine’s national reforms council – was no exception. | Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he has been relentlessly working to return Ukrainian citizens who got in trouble abroad, adding that Saakashvili – who also holds a senior post with Ukraine’s national reforms council – was no exception. |
| “I must think of him as a citizen of Ukraine. And why he did that... Well, there are local elections [in Georgia], he probably thought that it was a political step,” Zelensky said, as he criticized Saakashvili’s decision to return. “I did not know about this decision beforehand. I think it is wrong, after all, he holds a government post.” | “I must think of him as a citizen of Ukraine. And why he did that... Well, there are local elections [in Georgia], he probably thought that it was a political step,” Zelensky said, as he criticized Saakashvili’s decision to return. “I did not know about this decision beforehand. I think it is wrong, after all, he holds a government post.” |
| Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! |