The TIME 100 — Are They Worthy?

Read about the people whose power, talent, discoveries and philanthropy have made a difference in our world —Clayton Neuman and Unmesh Kher

CANDIDATES

MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI

By Unmesh KherFriday, Apr. 20, 2007
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Gamma

Mikheil Saakashvili


AGE: 39
OCCUPATION: President of Georgia
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: Led the Rose Revolution, a bloodless popular revolt that removed the authoritarian regime controlled by Eduard Shevardnadze and electrified the world. Since winning the election by a landslide in 2004, he has handled crises involving armed militias relatively peacefully. He has also done much to reduce endemic corruption.

CON: The Kremlin supported Shevardnadze's regime and saw the Rose Revolution as a challenge to its regional influence. Saakashvili has lately demonstrated a tendency to authoritarianism, including the violent suppression of peaceful protesters.

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