Mikheil Saakashvili მიხეილ სააკაშვილი
3rd President of Georgia
Incumbent
Assumed office  25 January 2004
Prime Minister	Lado Gurgenidze
Preceded by	Nino Burjanadze
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	December 21, 1967 (1967-12-21) (age 39) Tbilisi, Georgia
Nationality	Georgian
Political party	National Movement - Democrats
Spouse	Sandra E. Roelofs
Children	Eduard Saakashvili Nikoloz Saakashvili

Mikheil Saakashvili (Georgian: მიხეილ სააკაშვილი) (born December 21, 1967) is a Georgian politician and the current President of Georgia. He succeeded Nino Burjanadze, the acting president, on January 25, 2004. Saakashvili was elected to (officially) replace President Eduard Shevardnadze, who stepped down in Georgia's 2003 bloodless Rose Revolution, led by Saakashvili and his major political allies, Burjanadze and Zurab Zhvania. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The President of Georgia (ge: საქართველოს პრეზიდენტი) is the head of the state and commander-in-chief of Georgia. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Vladimer Lado Gurgenidze (Georgian: ) (born December 17, 1970) is the Prime Minister of Georgia. ... Nino Burjanadze (IPA: , Georgian: ნინო ბურჯანაძე) (surname sometimes transliterated in English as Burdzhanadze or Burdjanadze), born on July 16, 1964 in Kutaisi, Georgia (then USSR), was the interim President of Georgia from November 23, 2003 to January 25, 2004. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Tbilisi in Georgia Coordinates: , Country Georgia Established c. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia. ... The political movement National Movement - Democrats (Georgian Natsionaluri Modzraoba – Demokratebi ნაციონალური მოძრაობა – დემოკრატები (NMD), former United National Movement) is the largest political organization in Georgia. ... Sandra E. Roelofs Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs (born December 23, 1968) is the Dutch First Lady of Georgia, the wife of President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... The President of Georgia (ge: საქართველოს პრეზიდენტი) is the head of the state and commander-in-chief of Georgia. ... Nino Burjanadze (IPA: , Georgian: ნინო ბურჯანაძე) (surname sometimes transliterated in English as Burdzhanadze or Burdjanadze), born on July 16, 1964 in Kutaisi, Georgia (then USSR), was the interim President of Georgia from November 23, 2003 to January 25, 2004. ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Zurab Zhvania Zurab Zhvania (Georgian: ზურაბ ჟვანია) (December 9, 1963 – February 3, 2005) was a prominent Georgian politician and former Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. ...

Some non-Georgian sources spell his name via the Russian as Mikhail. In Georgia, he is commonly known as "Misha," a hypocorism for Mikheil. It is also transliterated Mixeil Saakašvili. A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Tom is short for Thomas). ...

He is married to Sandra E. Roelofs, of Dutch origin, and has two sons, Eduard and Nikoloz. He is reported to be fluent in some languages, including Georgian, English, French, Russian and Ukrainian. Sandra E. Roelofs Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs (born December 23, 1968) is the Dutch First Lady of Georgia, the wife of President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Early life and career

Mikheil Saakashvili was born in Tbilisi, in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union, to a Georgian intelligentsia family. His father, Nikoloz Saakashvili, is a physician who still practices medicine in Tbilisi and directs a local Balneological Center. His mother, Giuli Alasania, is a historian who lectures at Tbilisi State University. Location of Tbilisi in Georgia Coordinates: , Country Georgia Established c. ... State motto: პროლეტარ ყველა ქვეყნისა, შეერთდით! Official language Georgian since 1978 Capital Tbilisi Chairman of the Supreme Council Zviad Gamsakhurdia (at independence) Established In the USSR:  - Since  - Until February 25, 1921 December 30, 1922 April 9, 1991 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 10th in former Soviet Union 69,700 km² -- Population  - Total (1989)  - Density Ranked... The notion of an intellectual elite as a distinguished social stratum can be traced far back in history. ... Treatment bath at a spa in Hot Springs, Arkansas Balneotherapy involves the treatment of disease by bathing. ... Giuli Alasania is the mother of Georgian politician and current president Mikheil Saakashvili. ... Image:TSU2. ...

Saakashvili graduated from the School of International Law of the Kiev State University (Ukraine) in 1992. He briefly worked as a human rights officer for the interim State Council of Georgia following the overthrow of President Zviad Gamsakhurdia before receiving a fellowship from the United States State Department (via the Edmund S. Muskie/FREEDOM Support Act (FSA) Graduate Fellowship Program). Shevchenko Kyiv University in Kyiv is the largest and most important university of Ukraine. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Zviad Konstantines dze Gamsakhurdia[1] (Georgian: ზვიად კონსტანტინეს ძე გამსახურდია, IPA: ) (March 31, 1939 — December 31, 1993) was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... Edmund Muskie Edmund Sixtus Muskie (Edmund Marciszewski) (March 28, 1914–March 26, 1996) was a Polish-American politician from Maine. ...

He received an LLM from Columbia Law School in 1994 and Doctor of Laws degree from The George Washington University Law School the following year. In 1995, he also received a diploma from the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. The Master of Laws is an advanced law degree that allows someone to specialize in a particular area of law. ... Columbia Law School, located in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is one of the professional schools of Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League, and one of the leading law schools in the United States. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Doctor of Laws (Latin: Legum Doctor, LL.D) is a doctorate-level academic degree in law. ... The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest law school in the District of Columbia. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Strasburg. ...

After graduation, while working in the New York law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler in early 1995, Saakashvili was approached by Zurab Zhvania, an old friend from Georgia who was working on behalf of President Eduard Shevardnadze to recruit talented young Georgians to enter politics. He stood in the December 1995 elections along with Zhvania, and both men won seats in parliament, standing for the Union of Citizens of Georgia, Shevardnadze's party. New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP is a litigation law firm with only one office in New York. ... Zurab Zhvania Zurab Zhvania (Georgian: ზურაბ ჟვანია) (December 9, 1963 – February 3, 2005) was a prominent Georgian politician and former Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Union of Citizens of Georgia (also known as the Citizens Union of Georgia or Georgian Citizens Union) is a political party established by Eduard Shevardnadze, President of Georgia between 1992-2003. ...

Saakashvili soon made a name for himself as chairman of the parliamentary committee charged with creating a new electoral system, an independent judiciary and a non-political police force. He achieved a high degree of public recognition, with opinion surveys finding him to be the second most popular person in Georgia, behind Shevardnadze. He was named "man of the year" by a panel of journalists and human rights advocates in 1997. In January 2000, Saakashvili was appointed Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Anthem Ode to Joy (orchestral)  ten founding members joined subsequently observer at the Parliamentary Assembly observer at the Committee of Ministers  official candidate Seat Strasbourg, France Membership 47 European states 5 observers (Council) 3 observers (Assembly) Leaders  -  Secretary General Terry Davis  -  President of the Parliamentary Assembly Rene van der Linden...

On October 12, 2000, Saakashvili became Minister of Justice for the government of President Shevardnadze. He initiated major reforms in the decrepit, corrupt and highly politicised Georgian criminal justice and prisons system. This earned praise from many international observers and human rights activists. But in mid-2001 he became involved in a major controversy with the Economics Minister Ivane Chkhartishvili, State Security Minister Vakhtang Kutateladze and Tbilisi police chief Ioseb Alavidze, accusing them of profiting from corrupt business deals. is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Saakashvili resigned on September 5, 2001, saying that "I consider it immoral for me to remain as a member of Shevardnadze's government." He declared that corruption had penetrated to the very centre of the Georgian government and that Shevardnadze lacked the will to deal with it, warning that "current developments in Georgia will turn the country into a criminal enclave in one or two years." is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the United National Movement

Further information: Rose Revolution

Having resigned from the government and quit the Shevardnadze-run Union of Citizens of Georgia party, Saakashvili founded the United National Movement (UNM) in October 2001, a left-of-center political party akin to the Social Democrats in Europe with a touch of nationalism, to provide a focus for part of the Georgian reformists leaders. In June 2002, he was elected as the Chairman of the Tbilisi City Assembly ("Sakrebulo") following an agreement between the United National Movement and the Georgian Labour Party. This gave him a powerful new platform from which to criticize the government. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Politics of Georgia Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Georgian political parties ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Location of Tbilisi in Georgia Coordinates: , Country Georgia Established c. ... The Georgian Labour Party (Sakartvelos Leoboristuli Partia, საქართველოს ლეიბორისტული პარტია) is a political party in Georgia. ...

Georgia held parliamentary elections on November 2, 2003 which were denounced by local and international observers as being grossly rigged. Saakashvilli claimed that he had won the elections (a claim supported by independent exit polls), and urged Georgians to demonstrate against Shevardnadze's government and engage in nonviolent civil disobedience against the authorities. Saakashvili's UNM and Burdjanadze-Democrats united to demand the ouster of Shevardnadze and the rerun of the elections. Parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of Georgia on November 2, 2003. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Civil disobedience (disambiguation). ...

Massive political demonstrations were held in Tbilisi in November, with over 100,000 people participating and listening to speeches by Saakashvili and other opposition figures. The Kmara ("Enough!") youth organization (a Georgian counterpart of the Serbian "Otpor") and several NGOs, like Liberty Institute, were active in all protest activities. After an increasingly tense two weeks of demonstrations, Shevardnadze bowed to the inevitable and resigned as President on November 23, to be replaced on an interim basis by parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze. While the revolutionary leaders did their best to stay within the constitutional norms, many called the change of government a popular coup dubbed by Georgian media as the Rose Revolution. Kmara flag Kmara (Georgian: კმარა) is a civic resistance movement in the republic of Georgia which undermined the government of Eduard Shevardnadze. ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ... Otpor! (Cyrillic: ОТПОР!, in English: Resistance!) was a pro-democracy youth movement in Serbia which has been widely credited for leading the eventually successful struggle to overthrow Slobodan Milošević in 2000. ... NGO redirects here. ... Liberty Institute is Georgian non-profit, non-partisan, liberal public policy advocacy foundation. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nino Burjanadze (IPA: , Georgian: ნინო ბურჯანაძე) (surname sometimes transliterated in English as Burdzhanadze or Burdjanadze), born on July 16, 1964 in Kutaisi, Georgia (then USSR), was the interim President of Georgia from November 23, 2003 to January 25, 2004. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

On February 24, 2004 the United National Movement and the United Democrats had amalgamated. New political movement was named the National Movement - Democrats (NMD). The movement's main political priorities include raising pensions and providing social services to the poor, its main base of support; fighting corruption; and increasing state revenue. is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The political movement National Movement - Democrats (Georgian Natsionaluri Modzraoba – Demokratebi ნაციონალური მოძრაობა – დემოკრატები (NMD), former United National Movement) is the largest political organization in Georgia. ...

Presidency

Saakashvili's inauguration as President of Georgia

On January 4, 2004 Mikheil Saakashvili won the presidential elections in Georgia with more than 96% of the votes cast, making him the youngest national president in Europe. Saakashvili ran on a platform of opposing corruption and improving pay and pensions. He has promised to improve relations with the outside world. Although he is strongly pro-Western and intends to seek Georgian membership of NATO and the European Union, he has also spoken of the importance of better relations with Russia. He faces major problems, however, particularly Georgia's difficult economic situation and the still unresolved question of separatism in the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Abkhazia regards itself as independent of Georgia and did not take part in the elections, whilst South Ossetia favours union with its northern counterpart in Russia. Image File history File links Inauguration of president Saakashvili, Georgia, January 2004 source: Department of State: http://www. ... Image File history File links Inauguration of president Saakashvili, Georgia, January 2004 source: Department of State: http://www. ... is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Capital Sokhumi Official languages Abkhaz, Georgian Government  -  Chairman, Cabinet of Ministers  -  Chairman, Supreme Council Temur Mzhavia Autonomous republic of Georgia  -  Georgian independence Declared Recognised 9 April 1991 25 December 1991  Currency Georgian lari (GEL) Anthem Aiaaira Capital Sukhumi Official languages Abkhaz, Russian1 Government  -  President Sergei Bagapsh  -  Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab... Anthem unknown Capital Tskhinvali Official languages Ossetian1 Government  -  President Eduard Kokoity  -  Prime Minister Yury Morozov De facto independence from Georgia  -  Declared November 28, 1991   -  Recognition none  Currency Russian ruble (RUB) Russian in widespread use by government and other institutions. ...

Saakashvili was sworn in as President in Tbilisi on January 25, 2004. Immediately after the ceremony he signed a decree establishing a new state flag. On January 26, in a ceremony held at the Tbilisi Kashueti Church of Saint George, he promulgated a decree granting permission for the return of the body of the first President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, from Grozny (Chechen Republic) to Tbilisi and renaming a major road in the capital after Gamsakhurdia. He also released 32 Gamsakhurdia supporters (political prisoners) imprisoned by the Shevardnadze government in 1993-94. is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Zviad Konstantines dze Gamsakhurdia[1] (Georgian: ზვიად კონსტანტინეს ძე გამსახურდია, IPA: ) (March 31, 1939 — December 31, 1993) was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era. ... For other uses of Grozny, see Grozny (disambiguation). ... Capital Grozny Area - total - % water 79th - 15,500 km² - negligible Population - Total - Density 49th _ est. ...

In the first months of his presidentship, Saakashvili faced a major political crisis in the southwestern Autonomous Republic of Adjara run by an authoritarian regional leader, Aslan Abashidze, who largely ignored the central Georgian government and was viewed by many as a pro-Russian politician. The crisis threatened to develop into an armed confrontation, but Saakashvili's government managed to resolve the conflict peacefully, forcing Abashidze to resign on May 6 2004. Success in Adjara encouraged the new president to intensify his efforts towards bringing the breakaway South Ossetia back under the Georgian jurisdiction. The separatist authorities responded with intense militarization in the region, that led to armed clashes in August 2004. A stalemate ensued, and despite a new peace plan proposed by the Georgian government in 2005, the conflict remains unresolved. Recently, in late July 2006, Saakashvili's government managed to deal successfully with another major crisis, this time in Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge where Georgia's police forces disarmed a defiant militia led by a local warlord Emzar Kvitsiani. The Ajaria crisis refers to a political crisis in Georgia’s Ajarian Autonomous Republic led by a local strongman Aslan Abashidze, who refused to obey the central authorities after President Eduard Shevardnadze’s was ousted during the Rose Revolution of November 2003. ... A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia. ... Official language Georgian Capital Batumi ISO code GE.AJ Head of the Government Levan Varshalomidze Area  - Total  - % water 2,900 km² n/a Population  - Total (1989)  - Density 392,432 135. ... Aslan Abashidze Aslan Abashidze (Georgian: ასლან აბაშიძე) (born July 20, 1938) was the leader of the Ajarian Autonomous Republic in western Georgia from 1991 to May 5, 2004. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Early elections in November are announced in the Netherlands. ... Map of Abkhazia showing the location of the Kodori Gorge The 2006 Kodori crisis erupted in late July 2006 in Georgia’s Kodori Gorge, when a local militia leader declared his disobedience to the government of Georgia, which sent police forces to disarm the rebels. ... The Kodori Gorge The Kodori Valley (also known as the Kodori Gorge) is a river valley in Abkhazia, Georgias breakaway autonomous republic which serves as the de facto boundary between the Georgian government and the secessionist-controlled territories. ... Emzar Kvitsiani Emzar Kvitsiani was a Georgian warlord in the Kodori Gorge. ...

Although the reforms initiated by President Saakashvili are considered to have mixed success, still the rate of corruption in the country has drastically reduced. According to the World Bank accounts, Georgia is named as the number one economic reformer in the world and the country ranks as 18 in term of ease of doing business, when most of the country's neighbours' are in the 100s of the World Bank's rank.^[1] The World Bank logo The World Bank (the Bank) is a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), is a bank that makes loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty. ...

In his foreign policy, Saakashvili maintains close ties with the U.S. leadership, as well as other NATO countries, and remains one of the leaders of the GUAM organization. Saakashvili-led Rose Revolution has been described by the White House as one of the most powerful movements in the modern history^[2] that has inspired others to seek freedom. ^[3]. This article is about the military alliance. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ...

Economic Policy

Saakashvili is a popular supporter of free market and believes that less government involvement in businesses is a good idea.^{[citation needed]} During his administration Georgian economy advanced to a new level and increased tax collection after lower the tax rates. In addition, Georgia is becoming involved in International market transactions and in 2007 Bank of Georgia sold bonds at premium, when $200m five-year bond was priced with a coupon of 9 per cent at par, or 100 per cent of face value, after initially being priced at 9.5 per cent and investors pushed orders up to $600m.^[4] A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... Bank of Georgia (Georgian: საქართველოს ბანკი, transliterated as sakartvelos banki) is a leading universal Georgian bank with operations in Georgia (country) and Ukraine. ...

Foreign relations

Mikheil Saakashvili with George W. Bush.

President Saakashvili sees membership of the NATO as a premise of stability for Georgia and offered an intensified dialogue with the de facto Abkhaz and Osetian authorities. In addition, he is against the use of force to solve the conflicts and believes that they can be solved though diplomatic means and Saakashvili's administration initiated of doubling troops in Iraq, making Georgia one of the biggest supporters of Coalition Forces, and keeping its troops in Kosovo and Afghanistan to promote Global Security.^[5] President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili meet in Tbilisi Tuesday, May 10, 2005. ... President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili meet in Tbilisi Tuesday, May 10, 2005. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Coalition of the willing is a phrase which has been used since the 1980s to refer to groups of nations acting collectively and often militarily outside of United States position in the Iraq disarmament crisis and later the March 2003 invasion of Iraq (see Occupation of Iraq, 2003_2004). ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ...

Saakashvili's government maintains solid diplomatic relations with other Caucasian states and Eastern European countries, such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania and Poland. In 2004, Saakashvili visited Israel to attend the official opening of the modern energy problems research center and Dr. Brenda Schaffer, the director of the center, described Saakshvili as Nelson Mandela of the 21st century.^[6] In August of the same year, Saakashvili, who holds an honorary doctorate from Haifa University travelled to Israel to attend the opening of the official Week of Georgian-Jewish Friendship, held under the auspices of the Georgian President, for which the Jewish leaders were invited as honored guests.^[7] Eastern Europe is, by convention, a region defined geographically as that part of Europe covering the eastern part of the continent. ... The University of Haifa (אוניברסיטת חיפה) is a university in Haifa, Israel. ...

On the other hand, Georgia maintains good relations with the United States, a fact much disliked by the Kremlin, and the Russian newspaper Pravda published a derogatory article about Georgia titled Another Georgia to appear on the US map.^[8]

Saakashvili believes that the long-term priority for the country is to advance its membership in the European Community and during a meeting with Javier Solana, he said that in contrast with new and old European states, Georgia is an Ancient European state. The European Community (EC) was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... Javier Solana Madariaga (born July 14, 1942 in Madrid, Spain) is the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Criticism

There have been some concerns about Saakashvili monopolizing power since his coming to office in 2004. However, the government's human rights record has shown improvement in many areas compared to that of the Shevardnadze era, though some problems still remain.^[9][10][11] Since the Rose Revolution, the peoples uprising of 2003, human rights in Georgia have drawn closer to acceptable standards. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Saakashvili has occasionally used aggressive language, an example of which was reported by Amnesty International around the time of the President's inauguration. At a news briefing on 12 January, Saakashvili advised the then Justice Minister "to use force when dealing with any attempt to stage prison riots, and to open fire, shoot to kill and destroy any criminal who attempts to cause turmoil. We will not spare bullets against these people." Saakashvili in his inaugural speech stated that "now it is time for the government to be afraid of people." ^[12] Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amnesty international Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience...

In 2004 a new media law sparked controversy, with fourteen Georgian civil society leaders and Georgian experts writing an open letter to the President, published in several national newspapers, claiming "Intolerance towards people with different opinions is being planted in Georgian politics and in other spheres of social life". The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Civil society is composed of the totality of voluntary civic and social organizations and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society as opposed to the force-backed structures of a state (regardless of that states political system) and commercial institutions. ...

On March 27 2006 the government announced that it had prevented a nation-wide prison riot plotted by criminal kingpins. The Police operation ended with the deaths of 7 inmates and at least 17 injuries. Whilst the Parliamentary opposition has cast doubts over the official version and demanded an independent investigation, the ruling party has been able to vote down such initiatives.^[13].

The conduct of the Sandro Girgvliani Murder Case has also raised eyebrows at home and abroad. Several senior Interior Ministry officials were alleged to have played active roles in the murder, yet despite a series of resignations and sackings, only four low-ranking individuals have been prosecuted. In addition to this, Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili, has claimed that pressure has been exerted on his financial interests after Imedi Television broadcast several accusations against officials. On October 25, 2007, former defence minister Irakli Okruashvili accused his former ally president in planning Patarkatsishvili's murder.^[14][15][16] The Sandro Girgvliani Murder Case refers to one of the most notorious criminal cases in the modern history of Georgia. ... Badri Patarkatsishvili Badri Patarkatsishvili (Georgian: , Russian: ; born October 31, 1955 in Tbilisi) is a Georgian businessman, one of the richest men in Georgia, billionaire who started out his political career and made his important future contacts in the communist youth organisation, the Komsomol. ... Imedi Media Holding refers to a private TV and Radio Company in Georgia. ... Irakli Okhruashvili (born in 1973 in Tskhinvali, Georgia) has served as the Deputy Minister of Justice, Prosecutor General, Minister of Internal Affairs, Defense Minister, and most recently was appointed as the Minister for Economic Development before his resignation after one week from the appointment. ...

The partisan BHHRG has frequently claimed that the new government immediately set out to settle scores with Shevardnadze era officials. Many former ministers, local administrators and businessmen associated with the former regime were arrested for abuse of office. Despite the necessity of this, some Western organisations were concerned by the live broadcasting of these arrests and by President Saakashvili's occasional appearances on television to denounce the suspects, before any charges were laid. The British Helsinki Human Rights Group, often abbreviated to the British Helsinki Group, is an Oxford-based non_governmental organization which monitors human rights in the 57 member states of the Organization for Security and Co_operation in Europe. ...

On June 30 2005 riot police and special military forces carrying machine guns violently dispersed hundreds of protesters blocking a major road in Tbilisi. It started as protest against the arrest of two well-known sportsmen accused in blackmail but soon grew into a demonstration against the central authorities. 25 people were arrested including 5 members of opposition parties^[17]. In November 2007 another series of demonstrations forced Saakashvili to set the prescheduled presidential elections for January 5, 2008.^[18] Riot control are the measures to control a riot or to break up an unwanted demonstration (usually of protestors). ... Location of Tbilisi in Georgia Coordinates: , Country Georgia Established c. ... The 2007 Georgian demonstrations involved up to 50,000 [1] people in Tbilisi protesting against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikhail Saakashvili and the detention of Georgian politician Irakly Okruashvili on charges of extortion, money laundering, and abuse of office during his tenure as defense minister of the country. ... is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In spite of these criticisms many European and U.S. commentators have lauded the new government for taking bold measures in the fight against corruption. In addition, the U.S. State Department noted[1] that during 2005 'the government amended several laws and increased the amount of investigations and prosecutions reducing the amount of abuse and ill-treatment in pre-trial detention facilities'. The status of religious freedom also improved due to increased investigation and prosecution of those harassing followers of non-traditional faiths.^[9][19] For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ...

Assassination attempt

On May 10, 2005, while U.S. President George W. Bush was giving a speech in Tbilisi's Freedom Square, Vladimir Arutinian threw a live hand grenade at where Saakashvili and Bush were sitting. It landed in the crowd about 65 feet from the podium after hitting a girl and did not detonate. Arutinian was arrested in July of that year, but before his capture he managed to kill one law enforcement agent. He was convicted of the attempted assassinations of Saakashvili and Bush, and given a life sentence. is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Vladimir Arutinian (his surname is also transliterated as Arutyunian) (born on 12 March 1978 in Tbilisi, Georgia) is an ethnic Armenian man who attempted to assassinate U.S. President George W. Bush during his visit to Georgia on 10 May 2005. ...

See also

• List of national leaders
• Vladimer Gurgenidze, Prime Minister of Georgia

This is a List of national leaders, showing heads of state and heads of government where different, mainly in parliamentary systems; it should be noted that often a leader is both in presidential systems or dictatorships. ... Vladimer Lado Gurgenidze (Georgian: ) (born December 17, 1970) is the Prime Minister of Georgia. ... The Prime Minister of Georgia is the most senior minister within the Cabinet of the Republic of Georgia. ...

References

Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... Freedom House is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with field offices in about a dozen countries. ... This map reflects the findings of Freedom Houses 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005. ...

External links

• The official site of the President of Georgia
• Journal: Modern Georgia's Young Founding Fathers by Stephen Kinzer, The New York Times, June 4, 1998
• Caspian Business News article on Mrs. Saakashvili-Roelofs
• BBC News Online profile of Mikhail Saakashvili
• Unprovoked Onslaught by Mikheil Saakashvili in The Wall Street Journal

Stephen Kinzer is an American author and newspaper reporter. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company in New York City, New York, USA, with Asian and European editions, and a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million as of 2006, with 931,000 paying online subscribers. ... Nino Burjanadze (IPA: , Georgian: ნინო ბურჯანაძე) (surname sometimes transliterated in English as Burdzhanadze or Burdjanadze), born on July 16, 1964 in Kutaisi, Georgia (then USSR), was the interim President of Georgia from November 23, 2003 to January 25, 2004. ... The President of Georgia (ge: საქართველოს პრეზიდენტი) is the head of the state and commander-in-chief of Georgia. ...