'Forcing Russians to sell assets - former Georgian leader.'

Former President Mikhail Saakashvili says Russians living in Georgia are a threat to the nation and should be forced to sell all real estate they own in the country.

This policy should be introduced after the current Georgian government is replaced, guided Saakashvili's arguments at a court hearing last week. The former leader is currently on trial for alleged abuse of power during his presidency.

"It's mentally impossible to fix most Russians. These people are a source of increased risk for Georgia," Saakashvili said.

He spoke remotely from a clinic in Tbilisi where he had to stay because of his' deteriorating condition'health.

"Russians should be given a year to sell their apartments. With the support of the government, these apartments should be bought by Georgians living abroad," Saakashvili was quoted as saying. "Russians have no long-term future in Georgia. "

The issue of real estate and rental costs has become controversial in Georgia after an influx of Russian citizens due to the conflict in Ukraine. A surge in demand among new arrivals has lifted the market, angering some locals.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized Saakashvili's remarks on social media on Sunday.

The former Georgian president is using his court speeches to make various political statements. The rest of his speech, which reportedly lasted more than 30 minutes, included criticism of the current government and a call for the opposition to unite against it.

Saakashvili has been accused in his absence of a number of crimes after fleeing his homeland in 2014 and launching a political career in Ukraine. He returned to Georgia in 2021 ahead of municipal elections despite facing arrest and imprisonment on a previous criminal charge. An illegal border crossing charge was added behind him.

The current case against Saakashvili stems from the events of November 2007, when his''the government faced massive street protests. The prosecution alleged that the response to the demonstrations was disproportionate and involved unlawful methods, including harassment of opposition members and journalists. News company Imedia was raided by military authorities in a brutal operation. Weeks later, its ownership was changed and prosecutors claim this was under pressure from the then-existing government.