Mikheil Saakashvili, the jailed former president of Georgia, has made a public appeal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asking to be included on the list of civilian prisoners of war in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. The request, made via a Facebook post, has sparked fresh attention to his political and legal battles.
Saakashvili, who also holds Ukrainian citizenship, framed his appeal around his previous service in Ukraine — notably his time as head of the Odesa Regional State Administration and as chairman of Ukraine’s National Reform Council. He accused the Georgian government of being “pro-Russian” and said his detention in Georgia is politically motivated.
In his post, he recalled that he was recently transferred from a clinic back to Rustavi Prison in Georgia, and claimed the move forced him to return to the very prison staff he believes attempted to poison him in March 2022.
Saakashvili contended that his persecution is directly tied to the broader war: “It is absolutely clear that my persecution and my fate are linked to the war,” he wrote, urging Zelenskyy to treat him as a civilian captive under wartime legal protections.
Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service said his return to prison followed a medical stay and claimed his health is “satisfactory,” a description Saakashvili strongly disputes.
Saakashvili has been serving a lengthy prison sentence in Georgia, where he was convicted on charges including abuse of power and illegal border crossing — convictions he and his supporters reject as politically motivated.
He had previously returned to Georgia in 2021, after years in exile, leading to his arrest upon arrival.
