Ex-pres. Saakashvili refuses to receive hunger-related treatment following release of footage him eating
Saakashvili’s lawyer Shota Tutberidze stated that the medical council will assess his health condition most likely today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, who reportedly has been on hunger strike for 38 days, has refused to receive hunger-related treatment, including tests, following the release of footage by the Georgian Special Penitentiary Service of him receiving food in Rustavi Prison No.12 on November 6.
Saakashvili's personal physician Nikoloz Kipshidze has stated that the former president's decision is ‘a tragedy,’ noting that his condition ‘gets worse with each passing hour.’
He also urged members of the medical council to meet immediately, as Saakashvili’s health is critical.
It is about saving his life. He was receiving the medications that would save his life; however, after the release of footage on television yesterday, he refused,” Kipshidze said.
Day 39 of a hunger strike. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 8, 2021
Saakashvili’s lawyer Shota Tutberidze stated that the medical council will assess his health condition most likely today.
The primary concern is to take care of the health of the third Georgian president. Due to the recent actions of the government [release of footage], his vital indicators are already in danger,” Tutberidze said.
However, the penitentiary service of the country says Saakashvili's health is stable, noting that he is ‘under the constant supervision of medical staff.’
The body states that the medical council, which included a resuscitator, a neurologist and Saakashvili’s personal physician, concluded on November 5 that ‘at this stage, no serious pathology was revealed.’
Mikheil Saakashvili, with his consent, underwent clinical-laboratory examinations at the facility, the results of which at this stage do not allow us to say that his health has deteriorated,” the penitentiary service reports.
Saakashvili refused to receive hunger-related treatment before as well, on October 29, due to the Georgian government’s refusal to transfer him to a civil hospital; however, Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria stated that Saakashvili has been receiving small amounts of juice and mineral purees for medical purposes since October 30.
The release of the footage from prison was preceded by Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze’s comments that Saakashvili is eating a diet outside ‘medical designation’ in contradiction of his hunger strike.
#Georgia: Supporters of the imprisoned former president Mikheil #Saakashvili held a rally outside the prison in the city of #Rustavi, demanding the high-profile inmate is moved to a private clinic due to health conditions. pic.twitter.com/7ZQxoX1CC8
— agenda.ge (@agenda_ge) November 6, 2021
The head of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party, Nika Melia, gave 24 hours to the government for the admittance of Saakashvili into a civil hospital, or face a large-scale demonstration on Freedom Square in the capital Tbilisi, scheduled for 8 pm today. Saakashvili still remains in prison.
Saakashvili, who served as the country’s third president from 2004 to 2013, was arrested on October 1 ahead of municipal elections in the country after allegedly illegally crossing the border.
He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in two cases of abuse of power in absentia in 2018, and is charged with several other offences, including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party chairman Irakli Kobakhidze has responded to the opposition’s demand to transfer former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili from prison to a private hospital, saying the opposition should avoid ultimatums. Kobakhidze said the government is responsible for peace, and if the opposition ‘attempts to take destructive steps, they will receive the strictest response.’
The State Inspector’s Service will study the lawfulness of the photo and video materials about the arrested former president Mikheil Saakashvili receiving food at the No. 12 prison facility in the city of Rustavi after the Special Penitentiary Service has made the footage public.
Nika Melia, the chairman of the United National Movement opposition party, has given the government 24 hours to ensure the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili is moved from prison to a private clinic, as law enforcement made arrests at the opposition's rally outside the detention facility in the city of Rustavi on Saturday.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia has posted a footage and photographs on social media of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili receiving food at the prison facility in the city of Rustavi, amid contradictory claims made by penitentiary and justice officials and opposition figures about the hunger strike and health of the high-profile inmate.
Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze, has alleged the imprisoned former president of the country, Mikheil Saakashvili, eats diet outside "medical designation" in contradiction to his hunger strike, and in contrast to comments by the private physician of the politician.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia has called on citizens and opposition leaders to ‘observe public order’ during a protest rally which will be held today on Freedom Square in the capital of Tbilisi. Opposition leaders announced a mass demonstration in the centre of Tbilisi following the government dismissal of their demand to transfer the former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili from prison to a private hospital for treatment.
The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has plans to ‘block state buildings and streets and to throw out the members of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) from the cabinets they occupied illegally’ after the recent municipal elections, UNM member Levan Khebeishvili stated earlier today.
Doctor of arrested ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently serving a prison term, says a medical council has agreed to transfer him to a civil hospital following the deterioration in his health.
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Georgian justice minister Rati Bregadze has stated that former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili physically insulted prison staff in Gldani No. 18 facility, where allegedly he was forcibly brought.
Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, who reportedly has been on hunger strike for 39 days, has been transferred to Gldani No.18 prison hospital ‘to prevent deterioration in his health due to increased risks,' the Georgian Special Penitentiary Service reports.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has stated that the Gldani No.18 prison hospital, where ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred earlier today, is not provided with two medical devices - MRT and catheterisation equipment - that were recommended by the medical council.
Ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili who was transferred to Gldani prison hospital today, has released the letter from the facility stating that the purpose of the recent activities is his physical destruction under Russian president Vladimir Putin’s order.
The Union of Georgian Medical Associations has demanded imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred to a civil hospital in order to ‘save his life.’