**Former President Sentenced to Prison**
A court in Georgia has sentenced former President Mikheil Saakashvili to 4.5 years in prison for illegal border crossing.
Saakashvili, who was president from 2004-2007 and again from 2008-2013, was arrested on October 1, 2021, after returning to Georgia from Ukraine without permission.
**Long History of Controversy**
The sentence is the latest development in a long-running controversy surrounding Saakashvili. He has been accused of embezzling state funds and had previously been sentenced to an additional 9 years in prison on those charges.
Saakashvili was president when Georgia fought a war with Russia in 2008, and he has since become a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
**European Court Rules Proceedings Fair**
In May last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that there were no grounds to believe that Saakashvili’s criminal proceedings were unfair.
However, his health has been a concern during his time in custody. He holds Ukrainian citizenship and previously served as governor of Odesa Oblast.
**President Zelensky Speaks Out**
In February this year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Georgian government was “killing” Saakashvili after images showed him significant weight loss.
The sentencing comes at a time of great tension in Georgia, with mass protests over disputed elections and concerns about the country’s EU integration.