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<p><b>Mikheil Saakashvili</b> is a former <a href="/pages/w/106051489425318">Georgian</a> and former <a href="/pages/w/112077062136994">Ukrainian</a> politician. He was the third <a href="/pages/w/135705023130345">President of Georgia</a> for two consecutive terms from 25 January 2004 to 17 November 2013. From May 2015 until November 2016 Saakashvili was the <a href="/pages/w/620592604709682">Governor</a> of Ukraine's <a href="/pages/w/208957579141406">Odessa Oblast</a>. He is the founder and former chairman of the <a href="/pages/w/109589522394284">United National Movement</a> party.</p><p>Involved in Georgian politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president in January 2004 after President <a href="/pages/w/112105168802203">Eduard Shevardnadze</a> resigned in the November 2003 bloodless "<a href="/pages/w/102279313160374">Rose Revolution</a>" led by Saakashvili, his political allies, <a href="/pages/w/108288429192492">Nino Burjanadze</a> and <a href="/pages/w/105920656106179">Zurab Zhvania</a>. He was re-elected in the <a href="/pages/w/110107635708627">Georgian presidential election</a> on 5 January 2008. He was widely regarded as a pro-NATO and pro-West leader who spearheaded a series of political and <a href="/pages/w/110967528930623">economic reform</a>s. In 2010, he had a 67% approval rating despite being criticized by the opposition for his alleged authoritarian tendencies and <a href="/pages/w/113681651975588">electoral fraud</a>.</p><p>On 2 October 2012, Saakashvili admitted his party's defeat in <a href="/pages/w/198338663584909">Georgia's parliamentary election</a> against the <a href="/pages/w/338154182940143">Georgian Dream</a> coalition led by the tycoon <a href="/pages/w/195408110541302">Bidzina Ivanishvili</a>. He was barred by the constitution of Georgia from seeking a third term in the <a href="/pages/w/304513099580651">2013 presidential election</a>, which was won by the Georgian Dream's candidate <a href="/pages/w/514938741885469">Giorgi Margvelashvili</a>. Shortly after the election, Saakashvili left Georgia. Saakashvili is wanted by Georgia's new government on multiple criminal charges, which he denies as politically motivated.</p>