UNM urges int’l community, NGOs to take ‘all measures’ to protect Saakashvili

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has called on the international community and NGOs to ‘take all measures’ to protect former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been on hunger strike for 26 days.

The UNM chairman Nika Melia said yesterday that Saakashvili needs to be brought to a multi-profile civil clinic and not to a prison hospital as the Georgian Dream government officials had offered.

• Conditions to be rechecked in prison clinic where Saakashvili may be brought

The UNM appeals to the international community, accredited diplomatic corps, international and local NGOs to take measures to ensure the ex-president’s ‘right to life’ and ‘personal safety.’

• Lawyers demand ex. pres. Saakashvili be treated in civil hospital, not in prison

The opposition party asks the citizens of Georgia not to allow Saakashvili’s transfer to a prison clinic because it would ‘equal his murder.’

Finally, the statement urges the government of Georgia to ensure the ex-president’s health, as they are ‘fully responsible for Saakashvili’s life.’

Saakashvili, who is serving time in Rustavi Prison No. 12, was arrested on October 1. 

He stands convicted on two counts of abuse of power and is currently facing five additional charges, including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal and illegal border crossing.

• Saakashvili demands Georgian gov’t allow him to speak in court to ‘tell the truth’

Saakashvili denies all charges, considers himself a political prisoner, and has been on a hunger strike since his arrest.