Special Investigation Service: Saakashvili refusing to provide samples for forensic examination on alleged poisoning

Georgia’s Special Investigation Service on Monday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and his team had refused to provide samples for analysis by the National Forensics Bureau on traces of alleged presence of poisonous substances in the former official’s body.

The agency published the response it had received from the National Forensics Bureau on the former’s request for confirming whether the latter would be able to conduct the study, following claims by Saakashvili’s entourage and a part of the domestic opposition of a possible poisoning of the former President.

The formal response confirmed the Bureau was able to carry out the examination - intended to identify presence of heavy metals “on any biological and non-biological object” - but noted it had requested the submission of an additional examination sample, which Saakashvili and his lawyers had refused to do.

In its comments, the Service said the Bureau had requested a blood sample for the purpose, with Saakashvili and his lawyers only agreeing to provide hair and nail samples instead.

Following consultations with the Bureau, the Service said it had been “ready” to collect the hair and nail samples for the examination, but added the former President and his legal team had again “refused to provide all [necessary] types of samples”.

The state body stressed it was carrying out its investigation into the alleged poisoning “openly and transparently” and would “do its best to give comprehensive and substantiated answers to all questions” in the developments around Saakashvili’s health.