Justice minister: if needed Saakashvili will be helicoptered to clinic
Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said late yesterday that former president Mikhel Saakashvili has resumed taking medication to maintain strength while on hunger strike. Photo: Justice Ministry press office.
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Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze says that ‘all safety and other conditions’ are ensured for former president Mikheil Saakashvili in Rustavi Prison No.12, and, if there is a necessity, the former president will be helicoptered to a clinic.
Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, has been on hunger strike for 30 days.
He said yesterday that he suspended taking medications and communication with doctors.
Beragadze says, however, that Saakashvili has resumed taking medications and food supplements.
An emergency vehicle is standing at the prison round the clock and doctors are always present in prison to ensure any urgent medical care for Saakashvili if it is required. Moreover, the ministry is able to helicopter Saakashvili to a clinic if it is needed,” Bregadze said.
Bregadze stated that Saakashvili’s rights, as well as the rights of all prisoners in Georgia, are ‘fully protected,’ noting that the opposition was deliberately spreading false information about Saakashvili’s ‘poor conditions’ in prison.
It was false information that Saakashvili did not have a mattress. He had it from the very first day of imprisonment. When Saakashvili wanted a fridge and had not enough money on the prison card, the prison administration brought it to his room. He has received more than 100 visitors, including Ukrainian MPs. Saakashvili is a citizen of Ukraine and we have expressed our goodwill and allowed Ukrainian citizens to see him in prison,” Bregadze said.
PM Irakli Garibashvili stated earlier today that Saakashvili ‘once again cheated’ his supporters when he said that he suspended taking medications.
After an hour from making the statement, he resumed taking medications, vitamins and supplements,” Garibashvili said, adding that Saakashvili ‘played with voters’ emotions’ ahead of municipal election run-offs.
He stated that ‘all conform’ is ensured for Saakashvili in prison.
The Special Penitentiary Service has dismissed reports by opposition-minded channels earlier today that law enforcers are mobilised at Rustavi Prison No.12.
The Georgian State Security Service (SSS) has stated that the obstruction of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer to the prison hospital is planned following the 29 days of hunger strike since his arrest on October 1.
Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been on hunger strike since his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1, announced earlier today that he will no longer cooperate with the medical council and will refuse to receive hunger-related treatment.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says that former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili will neither be released early from prison, nor will he be transferred to Ukraine. "This will never take place. If the government allows any of these scenarios to happen, it will be disrespectful to the rule of law,” Garibashvili says. Saakashvili, who is a citizen of Ukraine and currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reform Council, was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, a day before the Georgian municipal elections.
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, is currently visiting former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili in Rustavi Prison No.12. Denisova says that she's come to Georgia to find out whether Saakashvili’s human rights are being protected.
The head of the Georgian State Security Service (SSS) Grigol Liluashvili has stated earlier today that ‘interesting facts and proceedings await us ahead’ following the disclosure of an alleged plan to overthrow the government involving the obstruction of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer to the prison hospital who has been on hunger strike since October 1.
Georgian Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze has dismissed the fears of the opposition that ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, would face threats if taken to a prison hospital for treatment instead of a civic one.
Six civil activists from Free Zone and Shecvale (Change) organisations have been questioned earlier today at Tbilisi City Court regarding an alleged plan to ‘overthrow the government.’ The SSS reported that the activists plotted to obstruct Saakashvili’s transfer to a prison clinic by blocking the roads, which would lead to civil unrest and the ultimate overthrow of the government.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MP, Mamuka Mdinaradze, says that he is sure the arrested former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, will feel good on the 41st day on hunger strike and will appear in a funny situation.