Georgia is losing its independence and control over the country is gradually being taken over by Russia, former president Mikheil Saakashvili told the Tbilisi City Court.
"I am here because I love Georgia infinitely. In Ukraine I had everything and a leading position and a comfortable life. In Ukraine I was twice offered the position of Prime Minister under President Poroshenko, but I refused. All in order to return to Georgia, which I love to the point of madness and where there was a real threat of my physical elimination," Saakashvili addressed the citizens at the beginning of his speech in court.
The former president also said that when he met with Georgian emigrants in various countries, he was told of the difficult life in Georgia, which was "losing its independence and gradually coming under Russian control."
"During my presidency, the lives of ordinary people were much better than they are now. This also applies to the exchange rate of the national currency and unemployment. It is a tragedy when crowds of Georgians go to Poland for seasonal work. In recent years almost 700 thousand citizens have emigrated from Georgia. This is a tragedy that is happening in front of our eyes. I could not sit in Kiev and watch my country falling apart," he said.
Prosecutor Jarji Tsiklauri interrupted Saakashvili's speech and said that it has nothing to do with the criminal case at hand. The court examines charges of exceeding his authority in dispersing a rally in Tbilisi on November 7, 2007 and a pogrom carried out by law enforcement bodies on the same day at the Imedi TV station.
Saakashvili's trial is ongoing.
