Mikheil Saakashvili Returns to Prison After Hospital Stay

On Wednesday evening, November 12, 2025, Mikheil Saakashvili, the former President of Georgia, was moved from Tbilisi's Vivamedi clinic back to Rustavi Prison (Correctional Facility Number 12) to continue serving his sentence.

Why the Transfer?

The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia said the transfer happened because Saakashvili's health was satisfactory. According to his doctor, he didn't need to be in the hospital anymore.

Saakashvili's Claims

After being moved, Saakashvili released a letter through his lawyer. In it, he stated that Bidzina Ivanishvili (who he calls the informal ruler of Georgia) set up the transfer with Moscow to destroy him, whom he considers to be a symbol of post-Soviet changes.

He also said he was back in the hands of the very same people who poisoned me in March 2022. He claims American and German labs confirmed the poisoning, which has left him with ongoing symptoms.

Political Reaction

Gia Volski, the First Vice-Speaker of Parliament, admitted the decision had political aspects. Still, he defended it legally, saying that someone convicted of serious crimes shouldn't be in a hospital if healthy. Volski also mentioned that Saakashvili had been in privileged conditions at the clinic, using the time to make calls for a revolution, which hurt the country politically.

Appeal to Zelensky

Saakashvili, who is also a Ukrainian citizen and used to work in the Ukrainian government, asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to include him on the list of civilian prisoners in the Russia-Ukraine situation. He said he's an illegally detained civilian prisoner held by a pro-Russian regime in Georgia and connected his situation to the conflict in Ukraine. He also shared that his new cell has tighter security, and he can only watch Russian and one Azerbaijani TV channel.

Background on Incarceration

Saakashvili secretly returned to Georgia on September 29, 2021, and was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, 2021. Since then, he's spent less than six months in a cell. The rest of the time, he's been in different clinics because of health issues.

Hunger Strikes: In October 2021, he went on a 50-day hunger strike, which led to him being moved to a military hospital in Gori. After going back to prison, he went on another 20-day hunger strike in February 2022.

Health Issues: Due to serious health concerns, like losing almost 60 kilograms and claims of heavy metal poisoning while in prison, he was moved to the Vivamedi clinic in May 2022. He stayed there under guard for over three years.

Sentences and New Charges

Saakashvili is currently serving sentences for several criminal offenses, including abuse of power, illegally crossing the border, misusing budget funds (9 million lari), and assaulting a lawmaker. His total prison time is now 12 years and 6 months, and he's not expected to be released before 2034. On November 6, prosecutors announced a new criminal case against him and eight opposition leaders, accusing them of calling for the violent overthrow of the government.