Mikheil Saakashvili

• Graduated from Faculty of International Law of the Kiev University
• Received a masters degree in law at the Columbia University, New York
• Pre doctoral studies at George Washington University, Washington DC
• Diploma from the International Institute of Human Rights, Strasburg, France  

1995 – Was elected as the chairman of the Committee on Legal Issues Rule of Law and Administrative Reform of the Parliament of Georgia.

1999 – Won Parliamentary elections in the Vake single mandate constituency of the capital Tbilisi and became Chairman of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia (led by Eduard Shevardnadze) parliamentary faction.

2000 October 12th – President Shevardnadze appointed Saakashvili on the Justice Minister’s post.

2001 September 5th – Resigned from the Justice Minister’s post accusing the government of total corruption.

2001 September 21st – won by-election in the Vake single-mandate constituency by 65% of the vote.

2001 – formed and became the leader of political party the National Movement, which became the major opposition party in Georgia. 

2002 (June) – National Movement party won local elections (in a close race with Labor party) and since he has been elected as the chairman of the Tbilisi City Council. 

2002 (June) – Awarded Open Society Prize of the Central European University in Budapest.