US State Department says Georgian Gov’t “responsible” for ex-Pres. Saakashvili’s health
The United States Department of State has told Voice of America that it was “closely monitoring” the health of imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Photo: Reuters
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The Georgian Government is responsible for ensuring all basic rights of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, including his right to proper treatment, Voice of America cited the United States Department of State as saying on Monday.
In its comment for the media, the US body said it was “closely monitoring” the treatment of Saakashvili in Georgia.
Georgia’s Justice Minister Rati Bregadze has stressed Saakashvili’s rights are being “fully protected” in detention facilities, from the Rustavi No.12 prison - where he was initially placed - to the hospital of the Gldani No.18 prison - where he was moved in early November last year - as well as the Gori Military Hospital - where he was transferred in late November - and finally at the Vivamedi civilian clinic, where he has been receiving treatment since May 12.
He also said last week the former official was engaged in “self-harm” by eating “what he wants and when he wants, refusing to follow doctors’ instructions”, and expressed his “suspicion” that Saakashvili and his “close entourage” may “not be interested in [actual] recovery [of his health condition]”.
Saakashvili has been receiving treatment in Vivamedi civilian clinic since May 12. Photo: hticenters.com.
A trial hearing at Tbilisi City Court on granting the release of Saakashvili on medical grounds or postponing the rest of his sentence will be held on Wednesday after being postponed from Friday due to technical issues with ensuring his participation via a video link.
A recent health report by Empathy, a Georgian-based rehabilitation centre, which had pointed to more than 20 health issues with Saakashvili and raised the potential of “coma and death”, was cited by the former President’s lawyers in their appeal to the court on December 1 to either release him or postpone the rest of his sentence.
Shalva Khachapuridze, a lawyer of Saakashvili, on Tuesday said the judge had allowed the former President’s participation in the trial hearing remotely, with the defendant awaiting the clinic’s permission for his involvement.
Saakashvili, a citizen of Ukraine, was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 on his clandestine return to Georgia ahead of municipal elections.
The former president is serving a six-year term for abuse of power in two separate cases stemming back to his time in office, while three other cases are pending.