Justice Ministry says “nothing to hide” over Saakashvili as imprisoned ex-Pres. announces hunger strike

The Georgian Justice Ministry on Wednesday said it was being “completely open and transparent” over questions related to imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, as the latter announced his latest hunger strike and accused the body of violation of his rights of featuring in a trial hearing on granting him release or sentence postponement on medical grounds. 

The hearing was delayed from Wednesday to next week after doctors refused to allow the former official to appear at the court session in person due to his condition, while the Special Penitentiary Service said it lacked proper hardware in the medical facility to ensure Saakashvili’s engagement in the hearing via a video link. 

Responding to recent controversies over Saakashvili, Beka Dzamashvili, the Deputy Justice Minister, on Wednesday said both his office and the Service had been “very open and transparent” over matters related to Saakashvili since his arrest in Tbilisi in October 2021, with more than 1,500 individuals allowed to visit him in detention since. 

Dzamashvili stressed “all foreign organisations and blocs”, including the European Union, Council of Europe and the United Nations, had been informed “in detail” about the condition of the convicted former official. 

Saakashvili has been receiving treatment in the Vivamedi civilian clinic since May 12. Photo: hticenters.com.

Saakashvili’s rights have been fully ensured in Georgia [since his detention] and the Ministry will continue to act in the same manner”, the official said and noted it was “completely up to the court” whether to grant Saakashvili release or postponement of the rest of his sentence. 

In his reaction to the delayed hearing, Saakashvili said his hunger strike would last until he received “solid guarantees” on his engagement in the process “at least via video link”. 

Claiming he was “well-aware” of the potential threat of the move to his health, he said in a letter handed to his lawyer “there should be limits to the ridicule and humiliation [directed against me]” and added he was “forced” to use the “radical form of protest”. 

In contrast to claims by Saakashvili and his entourage that the former President has not received “proper treatment”  while in custody and was in “urgent need” of transportation abroad, Government officials have said Saakashvili is engaged in “self-harm” and refusing to follow doctors’ instructions in a bid to “purposefully” complicate his condition and achieve the release from prison. 

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.