Saakashvili v. Georgia

Legal summaryMay 2024Saakashvili v. Georgia - 6232/20 and 22394/20Judgment 23.5.2024 [Section V]Article 6Article 6-1Criminal chargeFair hearingImpartial tribunalIndependent tribunalArticle 6-3-dExamination of witnessesConvictions of former president in two separate sets of criminal proceedings for acts committed whilst in office: no violationArticle 7Article 7-1Nullum crimen sine legeConviction of former President for abuse of official authority for granting a pardon during his presidency to high-ranking officials convicted of murder: no violationFacts – The applicant, a former President of Georgia, was tried and convicted in absentia in two separate sets of criminal proceedings and given a combined prison sentence of six years which he is currently serving. The proceedings took place after a change of Government in Georgia in 2012 in the backdrop of criminal investigations, including ag …