Georgian media on charges against Mikheil Saakashvili

Georgian media are discussing the charges against former president and founder of the opposition United National Movement party Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili has been charged with abuse of power. Georgian political analysts are trying to find out whether the former president has in fact committed the crimes he is charged with or the case is part of the political persecutions launched by the ruling Georgian Dream party against the opposition.

According to the Georgia Today newspaper, the authorities are simply trying to distract the public's attention from the actual problems the country is facing. "The transgressions of the former leadership are being discussed in order to hide the fact that the ruling coalition is unsuccessful rather than to promote justice," an article published by the newspaper reads.

"The new wave of political persecutions is aimed at casting into shade the growing discontent," the article reads.

Western powers are also afraid that the case is politically motivated. The Messenger cites the US Department of State's spokesperson Jen Psaki as saying: "The United States is concerned by the filing of criminal charges against former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili."

"Commitment to the rule of law means both that everyone must comply with the law in a democratic society and that the legal system should not be used as a tool of political retribution. We are monitoring this and related cases closely, and continue to stress to Georgian officials the importance of rigorous adherence to due process and the rule of law," Psaki said.