Saakashvili publishes first photo of daughter Jasmine amid Yasko's lawsuits

First public release of photo of minor daughter

Mikheil Saakashvili, who is imprisoned in Georgia, has for the first time published a photograph of his younger daughter, Jasmine, on his Facebook profile. This is the first image of the girl to appear in the public domain. In the photo, the child is holding hands with her grandmother, Giuli Saakashvili.

The post was made against the backdrop of ongoing legal proceedings between the politician and the child's mother, People's Deputy Elizaveta Yasko. Jasmine is reportedly approximately three to four years old, although her exact date of birth has not been disclosed.

Comment on alimony lawsuit

On the social media platform X, the 58-year-old former president reacted to a lawsuit filed by Liza Yasko, who is seeking to enforce alimony payments. Saakashvili assured that financial support for the child has been provided by his mother, who is the president of the private university The University of Georgia.

«Це моя дуже красива донька Жасмін, за якою я дуже сумую. За руку її тримає моя мама Гіюлі. Вона президентка найуспішнішого приватного університету в усьому регіоні – The University of Georgia. Звичайно, я хотів би обійняти Жасмінку сам. Але вже понад п’ять років я перебуваю в одиночній камері катівень пропутінської диктатури в Грузії і не можу з нею бачитися. Тому замість мене Жасмінку відвідує моя мама, яка намагається всіляко допомагати», — написав Міхеіл Саакашвілі. ("This is my very beautiful daughter Jasmine, whom I miss very much. My mother Giuli is holding her hand. She is the president of the most successful private university in the entire region – The University of Georgia. Of course, I would like to hug Jasmine myself. But for over five years I have been in a solitary cell in the dungeons of the pro-Putin dictatorship in Georgia and cannot see her. Therefore, instead of me, my mother visits Jasmine, trying to help in every way," wrote Mikheil Saakashvili.)

Financial aid and gifted property

According to the politician, Giuli visited her granddaughter in Kyiv several times and met with her in other European cities. She provided the child with monthly financial support and also sold part of the family property in Georgia.

«Крім того, моя мати продала частину родинного майна в Грузії та у 2022 році подарувала Жасмін квартиру в центрі Києва», — розповів Саакашвілі. ("In addition, my mother sold part of the family property in Georgia and in 2022 gifted Jasmine an apartment in the centre of Kyiv," Saakashvili said.) It is known that the 97.2-square-metre apartment has belonged to Jasmine since 2023 and is listed in Deputy Yasko's tax declaration.

«Безумовно, ми з родиною беремо на себе повну відповідальність за Жасмін і завжди піклуватимемося про неї», — підкреслив експрезидент. ("Unconditionally, my family and I take full responsibility for Jasmine and will always look after her," the former president emphasised.)

Position on parental rights and contact with the child

Saakashvili stressed that the breakdown of his relationship with Yasko only strengthens his parental bond with his daughter. He expressed gratitude to Liza Yasko for raising the child under difficult conditions, while also expressing outrage at the actions of some Ukrainian journalists who, in his view, have rudely interfered in his personal life, ignoring his political persecution.

«Але жодна матеріальна допомога не може замінити батьківської присутності й тепла. Тому я дуже вдячний Лізі Ясько, яка виховує нашу доньку в надзвичайно складних умовах. І я шалено злий на тих українських журналістів (звичайно, це стосується далеко не всіх), які жодного разу не поцікавилися моїм багаторічним полоном, отруєнням, тортурами й загалом боротьбою, зате грубо втрутилися в мої стосунки з донькою та Лізою», — зазначив він. ("But no material aid can replace parental presence and warmth. Therefore, I am very grateful to Liza Yasko, who is raising our daughter under extremely difficult conditions. And I am furious with those Ukrainian journalists (of course, this does not apply to all of them) who have never once shown interest in my years-long captivity, poisoning, torture and struggle in general, yet have rudely interfered in my relationship with my daughter and Liza," he noted.)

The politician added that his heart breaks at the news of the bombing of Kyiv, where his child lives. He added that despite the fact that Jasmine was born after his imprisonment, he is genuinely concerned about her well-being.

«Щодо судового позову Лізи Ясько стосовно нашої спільної доньки Жасмін. Я глибоко поважаю Лізу, яка як народна депутатка України мужньо працює заради своєї країни та виховує нашу прекрасну доньку Жасмін у надзвичайно складних умовах, під постійними обстрілами. Хоча Жасмін народилася вже після мого політичного ув’язнення, я дуже люблю її та щиро переймаюся її добробутом», — наголосив Саакашвілі. ("Regarding Liza Yasko's lawsuit concerning our common daughter Jasmine. I deeply respect Liza, who as a People's Deputy of Ukraine bravely works for her country and raises our beautiful daughter Jasmine under extremely difficult conditions, under constant shelling. Although Jasmine was born after my political imprisonment, I love her very much and am genuinely concerned about her well-being," Saakashvili emphasised.)

It is known that Elizaveta Yasko is also attempting through the courts to deprive Mikheil Saakashvili of his parental rights.