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Mikheil Saakashvili

Mikheil Saakashvili
Міхеїл Саакашвілі (Ukrainian)
მიხეილ სააკაშვილი (Georgian)
Saakashvili76589.jpg
Governor of Odessa Oblast
In office
30 May 2015 – 9 November 2016
Preceded by Ihor Palytsia
Succeeded by Maxim Stepanov
3rd President of Georgia
In office
20 January 2008 – 17 November 2013
Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze
Grigol Mgaloblishvili
Nika Gilauri
Vano Merabishvili
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Preceded by Nino Burjanadze (Acting)
Succeeded by Giorgi Margvelashvili
In office
25 January 2004 – 25 November 2007
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania
Zurab Noghaideli
Lado Gurgenidze
Preceded by Nino Burjanadze (Acting)
Succeeded by Nino Burjanadze (Acting)
Personal details
Born (1967-12-21) 21 December 1967 (age 49)
Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Georgia)
Nationality Georgia
Ukraine
Political party Movement of New Forces
United National Movement
Spouse(s) Sandra Roelofs
Alma mater National University of Kyiv
Columbia University
George Washington University
International Institute of Human Rights
Religion Georgian Orthodoxy
Signature
Website Official website

Mikheil Saakashvili (Georgian: მიხეილ სააკაშვილი, IPA: [mɪχɛɪl sɑɑkʼɑʃvɪlɪ]; Ukrainian: Міхеїл Саакашвілі, Mikheyil Saakashvili; born 21 December 1967) is a Ukrainian and formerGeorgian politician. He was the Governor of Ukraine's Odessa Oblast (region) from May 2015 until November 2016, and was the third President of Georgia for two consecutive terms from 25 January 2004 to 17 November 2013. Saakashvili is the founder and former chairman of the United National Movement Party.

Involved in Georgian politics since 1995, he became president in January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in the November 2003 bloodless "Rose Revolution" led by Saakashvili and his political allies, Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Zhvania. He was re-elected in the Georgian presidential election on 5 January 2008. He was widely regarded as a pro-NATO and pro-West leader who spearheaded a series of political and economic reforms. In 2010, he had a 67% approval rating despite being criticized by the opposition for his alleged authoritarian tendencies and electoral fraud.

On 2 October 2012, Saakashvili admitted his party's defeat in Georgia's parliamentary election against the Georgian Dream coalition led by the tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili. He was barred by the constitution of Georgia from seeking a third term in the 2013 presidential election, which was won by the Georgian Dream's candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili. Shortly after the election, Saakashvili left Georgia. Saakashvili is wanted by Georgia's new government on multiple criminal charges, which he denies as politically motivated.


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