Ruling party urges MEPs calling for ex-president Saakashvili’s release to respect rule of law
The signatories of the open letter call for the suspension of Saakashvili's arrest ‘until he faces trial, in fair judicial proceedings.’ Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MP Shalva Papuashvili has stated earlier today that those calling for the release of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ‘do not respect the rule of law’, in response to dozens of international officials’ joint letter.
A total of 72 MEPs, former and acting high officials of Europe and Georgia, have released an open letter to European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Parliament President David Sassoli, requesting the release of Mikheil Saakashvili, calling it ‘politically motivated prosecution.’
President @SaakashviliM???????? should be released to pave the way for a renewed stabilization agrmt that aims to end the crisis in #Georgia & restore the course that the Georgian people want to see for their nation -joint letter of 72 MEPs, diplomats, officials https://t.co/0BG9Y4EnHL pic.twitter.com/15tJzbcGmW
— Anna Fotyga Biuro Poselskie (@AnnaFotyga_PE) October 18, 2021
The letter reads that charges against Saakashvili ‘were never internationally recognised,’ noting that ‘these charges were known to be part of an established pattern of political persecution.’
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated that in Georgia ‘the rule of law is ensured, therefore it should be clear to everyone.’
It does not matter to us what the MEPs say, because what matters to us is what our people say,” Garibashvili said.
Saakashvili has been brought to justice; he committed many crimes, as established by the prosecutor's office, the investigation and all instances of the court; therefore, no one can stand in the way of the law,” he added.
Mikheil Saakashvili, who served as the country’s third president from 2004 to 2013, faces several criminal charges and has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment in two cases: an attack upon opposition MP Valeri Gelashvili, who was assaulted and gravely injured by armed men in Tbilisi in 2005, and the murder case of Sandro Girgvliani in 2006.
Protest rallies in support of jailed ex-president Saakashvili are held occasionally in Georgia demanding his release. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
He was found guilty of abuse of power in both cases in absentia in 2018.
The ruling party head Irakli Kobakhidze said that the letter ‘actually is signed by a single MEP,’ noting that political movement Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria and a former official under the United National Movement (UNM) leadership Batu Kutelia, who also signed the letter, are not the MEPs.
Papuashvili stated that those who signed the letter are ‘Saakashvili’s friends and are engaged in lobbying.’
Raphael Glucksmann [one of the signatories], for example, was Saakashvili’s advisor for years and was being paid from the state budget,” Papuashvili said.
The signatories of the open letter call for the suspension of Saakashvili's arrest ‘until he faces trial, in fair judicial proceedings.’
Ruling party MP Anri Okhanashvili also responded to the letter, saying that ‘talking about Saakashvili's innocence is an insult to the Georgian people.’
Either they are misled, or they have to come and become familiar with the actual circumstances,” stated Okhanashvili.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 ahead of municipal elections and transferred to Rustavi prison No. 12.
He will be charged with illegally crossing the border.
Saakashvili, who is a citizen of Ukraine and chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council, claims that currently he is on a hunger strike and considers himself a political prisoner.