Yuriy Bilous, a judge of Lviv Oblast’s Mostyska District Court, on Sept. 22 sentenced ex-Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to a Hr 3,400 fine on charges of illegally crossing the border after alleged evidence of the judge’s political motives emerged.
The illegal crossing of the border is an administrative offense in Ukraine. Saakashvili foiled the authorities’ attempts to prevent his entry to Ukraine, and broke through the Ukrainian border on Sept. 10.
Saakashvili, who was not present at the court hearing, denies illegally crossing the border, saying that he had already passed the Polish checkpoint and was on Ukrainian territory by the time he was carried by protesters through the Ukrainian one. He also argues that the crossing of the border “in cases of extreme necessity” — such as the bomb threat announced by the authorities after his arrival — without passing border controls is legal under Ukrainian law.
Saakashvili’s lawyers also argue that he is exempt from administrative penalties because he applied for asylum in Ukraine, saying that he faces political persecution in Georgia.
The court hearing was preceded by the release of an audio recording by Russian prankster Vladimir Kuznetsov in which he allegedly speaks with Judge Bilous, who was hearing the Saakashvili case. Kuznetsov pretended to be lawmaker Oleksandr Hranovsky, a top ally of President Petro Poroshenko widely believed to be in charge of the legal system. Bilous denied having spoken to Kuznetsov.
“I’m just presenting the president’s position,” the prankster said. “We want to make sure that this swindler (Saakashvili) doesn’t feel comfortable. If necessary, the president’s people may come and reiterate our intentions.”
The person alleged to be Bilous thanked Kuznetsov and said that he would like to meet him in Kyiv.
“I’ll be at work tomorrow,” the alleged voice of Bilous said. “You know where I am. If necessary, you’re welcome!”
Saakashvili told NewsOne television that “there are no courts in Ukraine and no justice, and all judges are corrupt and do the government’s bidding.”
“After this recording, in a normal country the police would come, handcuff this judge and jail him,” Saakashvili said. “But he continues to issue rulings.”
Kuznetsov also released a conversation with a person he alleges to be Iryna Volosko, chairwoman of Lviv’s Halytsky Court. The court is hearing a criminal case against Saakashvili’s ally David Sakvarelidze, who has been charged with illegally transporting the ex-Georgian president through the border and resisting law enforcement officers.
The person portrayed as Volosko expressed readiness to take orders from Hranovsky.
“Understood, I’ve heard you,” she said. “I’ll do everything in my power.”
She also promised to get in touch with the judge who is hearing the Sakvarelidze case and asked the prankster whether the court was supposed to impose travel restrictions on Sakvarelidze.
The Halytsky Court did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month the Halytsky Court also arrested two Saakashvili supporters on charges of illegally transporting him through the border and resisting law enforcement officers. Saakashvili believes the cases to be a political vendetta by Poroshenko.
When Poroshenko stripped Saakashvili of his citizenship in July, he said that the former Georgian president had submitted incorrect information when applying for citizenship in 2015.
However, Saakashvili’s lawyers argue that the cancellation of Saakashvili’s citizenship is illegal because it violates the Constitution, Ukrainian and international law and due process, and is politically motivated. And as a stateless permanent resident of Ukraine, he has the right to enter the country without a visa under the law, his lawyers said.
Ukrainian authorities have so far refused to give Saakashvili documents on the loss of his citizenship, or specify the legal grounds for its withdrawal.
