
Mikheil Saakashvili
President of Georgia (2004 - 2013)
Mikheil Saakashvili received the "Knight of Freedom" award for strengthening the democracy, rule of law, and development of civil society in Georgia.
Georgian and Ukrainian politician, a graduate of law at Columbia University. In 2000 he was appointed justice minister in the government of Eduard Shevardnadze. A year later he resigned from this function and joined the opposition, assuming his own party – United National Movement. Two years later, together with Zurab Zhvania and Nino Burjanadze leader of the so-called “Rose Revolution” which led to a bloodless resignation of President Shevardnadze. Saakashvili won the next presidential election to obtain more than 96 percent. votes. He served as president of Georgia in 2004-2007 and 2008-2013.