Saakashvili Denounces Georgia's 2026 Olympic Team as a 'Branch of the Occupiers'.

Mikheil Saakashvili Criticizes Georgia's Olympic Team Selection

According to Novyny.live: From his prison cell, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has launched a scathing attack on the nation's team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. In a post on the social media platform X, he argued that the selected athletes do not represent Georgia's true national interests.

Roster for the Olympic Games

The Georgian Olympic team is set to include the following athletes:

• Alpine skiers Luka Buchukuri and Nino Tsiklauri
• Figure skaters Luka Berulava, Gleb Smolkin, Nika Egadze, Anastasia Gubanova, Diana Davis, and Anastasia Metelkina

Despite the inclusion of these competitors, Saakashvili contends their participation fails to showcase genuine Georgian representation on the world stage.

Saakashvili, who is currently serving a sentence in a Georgian prison, urged the international community to reject the team's legitimacy:

"I call on the rest of the world not to accept this self-proclaimed team as representatives of Georgia, and to Georgians I say: this is not your team, but in reality a shadow branch of the occupiers." — Mikheil Saakashvili

This statement underscores his profound dissatisfaction with the current state of the Olympic movement in the country. His remarks tap into long-standing tensions in Georgian society regarding national sovereignty and identity.

Saakashvili's comments likely reflect broader political and social sentiments in Georgia, where issues of national identity and international representation remain highly sensitive. His criticism could significantly shape perceptions of the Olympic team both domestically and abroad, highlighting the contentious intersection of sports and politics. The controversy surrounding the team's composition may fuel further debate about the Olympic movement's role amidst the nation's complex political landscape.