**Former President of Georgia Blasts Bidzina Ivanishvili**
Mikheil Saakashvili, the third president of Georgia, criticized Bidzina Ivanishvili during his trial. He said that Ivanishvili had made a wrong bet by supporting Vladimir Putin’s victory in Ukraine.
Saakashvili also questioned why Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Foreign Affairs Minister Davit Zalkaliani got infected with COVID-19 at a time when the situation in Ukraine was tense. He said that they hid and avoided important meetings, claiming to be infected with the virus.
“Garibashvili evaporated, he was said to be infected with Covid,” Saakashvili said. “When UK Foreign Minister was about to call, Zalkaliani contracted Covid… As if he could not speak during Covid.”
Saakashvili accused Ivanishvili of failing in his duties as the founder of the Georgian Dream party.
**Georgia is Alone Against Russian Aggression**
Saakashvili noted that today Georgia is “completely alone against possible Russian aggression.” He said that this was a result of Ivanishvili’s failures and wrong decisions.
The trial of Saakashvili and former head of the Special State Protection Service Teimuraz Janashia is being held at the Tbilisi City Court. The Prosecutor‘s Office accuses them of embezzling GEL 9 million from the state budget.
**Saakashvili Leaves His Trial Early**
Saakashvili left his trial early, saying “I will go, what is the point of being here? Everything is already clear.” He does not plead guilty and believes that the trial is being held formally, with the verdict already decided by Ivanishvili.