Ex. pres. Saakashvili says medicals council politicised, demands alternative commission
In response to President Salome Zurabishvili’s recent statement that she will ‘never’ pardon the ex-president, Mikheil Saakashvili claims he does not expect to be pardoned by the current government. Photo: Shot from interior Ministry video/Archive
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Ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saalashvili, who has been on hunger strike for 35 days in Rustavi Prison No.12, refuses to meet with a medical council claiming it is politicized and demands an alternative commission.
Saakashvili’s lawyer Nika Gvaramia says, although his defendant trusts and respects every member of the medical council, he will no more participate in their observations.
Day 35 of a hunger strike. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 4, 2021
Arrested a day before the municipal elections in Georgia Saakashvili faces several criminal charges including the illegal crossing of the state border. He denies the charges, calling himself a ‘political prisoner’.
The opposition, which is holding permanent rallies near the penitentiary facility , calls on Saakashvili to stop hunger strike. His lawyers meanwhile demand Saakashvili’s transfer to a civil hospital for treatment amid the deterioration of his health.
- President Zurabishvili on pardoning ex. pres. Saakashvili: no and never
- Saakashvili: don’t expect me to be pardoned
- Opposition slams president for her ‘strong refusal’ to pardon Saakashvili
However, the Justice Ministry says the prison hospital is safe and fully equipped and there is no need to take the ex-president elsewhere.
Public Defender Nino Lomjaria disagrees. She says the hospital offered by the government is not quite fit to provide Saakashvil with all the medical services he requires. Therefore, Lomjaria calls for the Justice Ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service to enable his treatment at a multi-functional hospital.