In particular the flag has become a banner for pro-Europeanism outside the Union, for example in Georgia, where the flag is on most government buildings since the coming to power of Mikhail Saakashvili, who used it during his inauguration, stating: " European flag is Georgia ’ s flag as well, as far as it embodies our civilisation, our culture, the essence of our history and perspective, and our vision for the future of Georgia.

His father, Nikoloz Saakashvili, is a physician who practices medicine in Tbilisi and directs a local Balneological Center.

After graduation, while on internship 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 enter politics.

In the first months of his presidency, 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.

In August of the same year, Saakashvili, who holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa, 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 honoured guests.

President Mikheil Saakashvili, at an emergency Cabinet meeting, said, " In Zurab Zhvania, Georgia has lost a great patriot, who devoted his entire life to serving the motherland.

In 2004, following the Rose Revolution of November 2003, newly elected Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili, who vowed to resolve the conflict with the breakaway region of Abkhazia solely by peaceful means, disarmed groups of Megrelians who tried to fight a guerrilla war against the Abkhazians by incursions from Samegrelo.

Mikhail Saakashvili was among tens of thousands who were denied the right to vote.

Irakli Okruashvili () ( born 6 November 1973 ) is a Georgian politician who had served on various important posts in the Government of Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili, including being the Minister of Defense from December 2004 until being dismissed in November 2006.

In his comments on TV, which dominated the news during election day, Saakashvili indicated that the attack had been an attempt to disrupt the election, implying that it had been Abkhaz or Russian forces who had been behind it.

In June 2004, the new Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, became the first Georgian politician to have visited the Iranian Georgian community in Fereydunshahr.

* Saakashvili visited Fereydunshahr and put flowers on the graves of the Iranian Georgian martyrs ' graves, showing respect towards this community

* Saakashvili visited Fereydunshahr and put flowers on the graves of the Iranian Georgian martyrs ' graves, showing respect towards this community

* Saakashvili visited Fereydunshahr and put flowers on the graves of the Iranian Georgian martyrs ' graves, showing respect towards this community.

During U. S. President George W. Bush ’ s visit to Georgia, on May 10, 2005, when he along with President Mikheil Saakashvili were addressing tens of thousands of Georgians in Freedom Square in Tbilisi, a recording of " Tavisupleba " failed to play properly.

The Interior Ministry enlarged its responsibilities, taking greater control of border police and was designated by President Saakashvili to oversee distribution of the substantial international assistance for Georgians displaced in the August conflict with Russia.

“ Aslan has fled, Adjara is free ,” President Saakashvili announced at the dawn of St George ’ s Day on May 6 and congratulated Georgians with what he described as “ a second bloodless revolution ” in Georgia.

At a press conference, Saakashvili said: " I think the people have given their verdict.

In the film, President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is played by Cuban-American Hollywood actor Andy García.

22 people, including the most recent president Mikheil Saakashvili, approved candidate of the united opposition Levan Gachechiladze, influential businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili, Leader of the New Right Party David Gamkrelidze, the Leader of the Georgian Labour Party Shalva Natelashvili, the Leader of Hope Party Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia and Giorgi Maisashvili put forward themselves for forthcoming elections.

On January 26, 2004, the newly elected President Mikhail Saakashvili officially rehabilitated Gamsakhurdia to resolve the lingering political effects of his overthrow in an effort to " put an end to disunity in our society ", as Saakashvili put it.

On May 25 we will manage to put an end to Saakashvili ’ s regime with minimal losses.

On January 4, 2004 Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the United National Movement won the country's presidential election and was inaugurated on January 25.

President Saakashvili invited Vladimer (" Lado ") Gurgenidze, MBA holder from Emory University, United States and former business executive, to succeed Noghaideli on the position of the PM on the same day.

Mikheil Saakashvili resigned from the position of the President on November 25, 2007 as the Constitution of Georgia requires the president stands down at least 45 days before the next election to be eligible for retaking part him / herself.

Mikhail Saakashvili on May 22, 2008 announced his confident victory for his ruling party in parliamentary polls amid fears of political unrest, and rising tensions between Georgia and Russia.

In August 2008, he urged the UN Security Council to " take urgent action " and " condemn Russia's military assault on the sovereign state of Georgia ," in addition to stating that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had told Secretary of State Rice that Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili " must go.

The creation of a new FEZ was officially inaugurated by the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili on April 15, 2008.

In August 2008, Lévy reported from South Ossetia, Georgia during the 2008 South Ossetia war ; on that occasion he interviewed the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili.

Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov flew to Tbilisi to visit three main opposition leaders and Shevardnadze, and arranged on late 23 November for Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania to meet Shevardnadze.

Involved in national politics since 1995, he became president on 25 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.

Saakashvili resigned on 5 September 2001, saying that " I consider it immoral for me to remain as a member of Shevardnadze's government.

Saakashvili ran on a platform of opposing corruption and improving pay and pensions.

Saakashvili was sworn in as President in Tbilisi on 25 January 2004.

Presidents Saakashvili and George W. Bush in Tbilisi on May 10, 2005

The declaration of state of emergency by the president ( 7 November-16 ) and the restriction imposed on some mass media sources led to harsh criticism of the Saakashvili government both in the country and abroad.

Pursuant to the Constitution of Georgia, Saakashvili resigned on 25 November to launch his pre-election campaign for early presidential polls.

However, a series of clashes between Georgian and South Ossetian forces resulted in Saakashvili ordering an attack on Tskhinvali.

She was closely allied with the reformist wing within the UCG led by Mikheil Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania whom she succeeded on November 9 as the parliamentary chairperson after Zhvania resigned on November 1, 2001.

In order to contest the presidential election, Saakashvili announced his resignation effective 25 November 2007, with Burjanadze becoming acting president for a second time ( until the election returned Saakashvili to office on 20 January 2008 ).

On 4 May 2005, Mikheil Saakashvili visited the graves for the first time as the president of independent Georgia.