Parliament Speaker stresses “important” for imprisoned former President Saakashvili to cooperate with medical staff

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said it was “important” that the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili cooperated with the medical staff and the domestic penitentiary system, in his remarks over the latest developments around the former official’s health and sentence.

From my point of view, it is important that the Government does everything for the health of all prisoners, including the health of Mikheil Saakashvili”, the head of the legislative body said.

Papuashvili also noted the European Court of Human Rights had urged Saakashvili to call off his hunger strike last year, when the imprisoned politician had demanded his transfer from a prison hospital to a private clinic.

We remember the judgement of the Strasbourg court - when Mikheil Saakashvili declared a hunger strike, the Strasbourg court gave a direct instruction [to him] to call off the hunger strike. It is important that prisoners cooperate with doctors [and] the penitentiary system”, he concluded.

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.

A Tbilisi City Court hearing on Wednesday will rule if Saakashvili can be granted release or receive a postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds.