**Georgia’s Ex-President Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison**
Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, has been sentenced to 9 years in prison. This decision was made today, March 12.
Saakashvili was charged with abusing his power back in 2018. He was given a sentence of 6 years in prison at that time, but he wasn’t arrested until 2021 when he returned to Georgia from Ukraine. Now, the new ruling adds an extra 3 years to his original sentence, taking it up to 2030.
**Why Was Saakashvili Sentenced?**
The judge found him guilty of misspending around $3.2 million in state funds during his time as president from 2009 to 2012. He was accused of using this money for personal expenses, such as staying in luxury hotels and spas, visiting cosmetic clinics, and buying clothes.
Another defendant in the case, Teimuraz Janashia, who used to head the Special State Protection Service, was fined $110,000. The judge said he didn’t find any evidence that Janashia had actually spent the money, but that he had used his position for personal gain.
**Many Think This is a Politically Motivated Case**
Saakashvili’s supporters and some opposition parties believe this case is unfair and has been brought against him because of his political activities. They think the government wants to keep him in prison so he can’t influence politics.
The leader of the United National Movement, Petre Tsiskarishvili, said: “The regime is very afraid of Mikheil Saakashvili, as the main opposition figure. It does everything to ensure that Mikheil Saakashvili remains behind bars.”
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