Abstract. The municipal elections in Georgia were held against the background of the return of ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili to the country and his subsequent arrest. 4 criminal cases have been opened against Saakashvili, in two of which he was sentenced to 3 and 6 years in prison. Saakashvili’s hopes to inspire the opposition electorate with his presence failed to become justified. The ruling Georgian Dream party won both the first and second rounds of voting, in which mayors of 20 major cities were elected. Nevertheless, Saakashvili's return has put the Georgian leadership in a difficult position both from the point of view of domestic and foreign policy.