“Saakashvili is a good example of how traitors to the country end up,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said, commenting on statements made by former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili during a court hearing today.

According to him, freedom of speech and expression are protected in Georgia, but anyone who violates the law will face a strict response.

“We have heard Saakashvili’s bravado many times, not only from him but also from people who have been involved in treacherous actions and have taken specific steps against the country. Saakashvili is a good example of how such politicians and people have ended up. We could name other people as well.

“We have said this many times, and I will repeat it once again: freedom of speech and expression is protected in the country, and everyone has the opportunity to express their views on various issues. However, if anyone violates the law, this will, of course, be met with a very strict response, and we have numerous examples of this,” Kaladze said.

The Tbilisi mayor also said that Saakashvili does not belong to the Georgian people or Georgia and serves the interests of another country.

“When you do not belong to Georgia or to the Georgian people, of course, you will have the kind of attitude that we hear in his statements, and you will have the attitude that this person expressed during one of his speeches concerning Sokhumi.

“They do not belong to our homeland; they defend the interests of another country, have their own patrons and act according to corresponding instructions.

“The actions and steps taken on August 8, 2008, were treacherous actions. There is no other way to assess what unfortunately happened,” Kaladze said.