Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been sentenced to an additional nine years in prison for the large-scale embezzlement of public funds, a charge he calls politically motivated.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili of the Tbilisi City Court on March 12 and will be served concurrently with the six-year prison term he is already serving for abuse of power.
After the judge announced his decision, a commotion erupted in the courtroom with Saakashvili's supporters calling the judge a "slave" of the government.
Alongside Saakashvili, the court also sentenced Temur Janashia, the former head of the Special State Guarding Service. He was handed a fine of 300,000 laris ($106,760) for abuse of power.
SEE ALSO: Georgian Ex-President Saakashvili Says He Will Return To 'Save The Country' Despite Jail ThreatBoth Saakashvili, who was president from 2003 to 2013, and Janashia have consistently denied the charges.
Their steadfast denial, echoed by the opposition United National Movement and several other political groups, has garnered sympathy and support, with many arguing the case was driven by political retribution.
Saakashvili's presidency was marked by ambitious reforms to curb corruption and modernize the country, including significant changes in the police force and the judiciary.
After leaving office, he became involved in Ukrainian politics, serving as the governor of Odesa from 2015 to 2016 before falling out with Ukrainian authorities.
He was arrested in Georgia on October 1, 2021, after secretly returning to the country ahead of local elections.
He had been convicted in absentia on charges related to abuse of power, including granting a presidential pardon to individuals involved in the murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani and the beating of opposition lawmaker Valeri Gelashvili.
SEE ALSO: Everything You Need To Know About Georgia's Key VoteSince his arrest, he has been held in detention and is currently receiving medical treatment at the Vivamedi Clinic.
The prosecution accused Saakashvili and Janashia of misappropriating 9 million laris ($3.2 million) in public funds.
The judge ruled that while Janashia's actions did not constitute direct embezzlement, Saakashvili was guilty of misusing state resources for personal expenses.
Attendees at the court session also shouted "Bidzina's puppet!"in a reference to former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom many opposition supporters accuse of orchestrating politically motivated trials.
Several individuals, including activist Zviad Kuprava, were removed from the courtroom for disrupting the proceedings.
Saakashvili had requested to be present at his sentencing but cited health concerns for failing to show up.
He had previously urged the ruling Georgian Dream party to postpone the pronouncement of the verdict and the sentence.
However, Kochlamazashvili stated that the trial could not be delayed indefinitely, emphasizing a defendant's absence does not prevent the court from issuing a ruling.
In addition to his latest conviction, Saakashvili remains embroiled in two other ongoing trials. One of these concerns the events of November 7, 2007, when his government dispersed anti-government protests in Tbilisi.
The second trial involves charges of illegal border crossing related to his secret return to Georgia in 2021. Saakashvili entered the country hidden in a truck, bypassing border controls, which prosecutors argue was a violation of Georgian law.
The cases continue to fuel political tensions in Georgia, with his supporters claiming they are part of an effort to permanently keep him out of the political arena.