Time in Tbilisi: April 18, 2024 03:42
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.
Saakashvili's lawyer Beka Basilaia says that neither family members nor his lawyers were notified about the transfer, claiming that ‘it is abduction that puts extra stress on the person on hunger-strike.’
Saakashvili’s mother Giuli Alasania said that her son was ‘taken away by armoured vehicles, then put in a helicopter.’
President @SaakashviliM kidnapped from Rustavi prison by helicopter, reportedly transferred to Gldani prison hospital without any prior notification. He's been in critical condition after refusing medical checkups & medication amid the GD defamation campaign on his hunger strike
— UNM Georgia (ენმ) (@UNMGeorgia) November 8, 2021
Ex-president’s personal doctor Nika Kipshidze said earlier today that a medical council agreed to transfer Saakashvili to a civil hospital following the deterioration of his health.
Saakashvili, who was arrested on October 1 ahead of municipal elections in the country after allegedly illegally crossing the border, refused to receive hunger-related treatment following the release of footage by the penitentiary service of him receiving food in Rustavi Prison No.12 on November 6.
The opposition leaders claim that the Saakashvili’s transfer to Gldani hospital poses a great danger considering medical and safety conditions in the facility.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria also states that the situation in the institution does not fully comply with the recommendations of the medical council.
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.
Representative of Georgian Public Defender's office Mikheil Gogadze stated that ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is on a hunger strike for more than a month, has been transferred to Gldani No.18 prison hospital under protest earlier today.
A protest rally organised by the largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), is being held on Freedom Square in central Tbilisi, where UNM head Nika Melia announced a ‘permanent’ protest, calling on supporters to stay on the spot.
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.
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.
Droa opposition party leader, Elene Khoshtaria, who has been on hunger strike for six days while demanding the transfer of former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili to a civil clinic, says that she is ‘strongly against’ Saakashvili returning to power.
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.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia has released the video footage of the former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili leaving the Rustavi Prison No.12, which refutes the speculation that Saakashvili was transferred to Gldani prison clinic by force. The service said it posted the footage due to ‘high public interest.’
Ukrainian high officials have called on the government of Georgia to transfer the former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili from a prison hospital to a private clinic. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has expressed disappointment over the fact that Saakashvili, who is currently a citizen of Ukraine, was transferred to a prison hospital this evening without the Ukrainian side being informed.
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.
The situation in front of the Administration of the Government of Georgia, where the opposition is holding a rally, has tensed after the United National Movement (UNM) member Levan Khabeishvili attempted to spray the message ‘free Misha’ in solidarity of the former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili on the square in front of the administration building. The confrontation took place between the protesters and the police as the law enforcement officials prevented Khabeishvili from making the inscription.
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 United National Movement (UNM) opposition party is holding a rally in front of the building of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia in Tbilisi, following yesterday's transfer of former president Mikheil Saakashvili to Gldani prison hospital ‘against his will.’ The party is demanding the transportation of Saakashvili to a civil clinic, his release from prison and the annulment of recent municipal election results.
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, Irakli Kobakhidze, says that the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has discussed the possibility of poisoning the leader of the Droa opposition party, Elene Khoshtaria, to further strain political tension.
Civil organisations have called on the government of Georgia to transfer the former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili from Gldani Prison No.18 hospital to an ‘alternative medical institution. In a joint statement, seven organisations maintain that Saakashvili’s transfer to a prison hospital posed the risk of ‘escalating the political situation’ in the country, and the ‘full responsibility’ for the events rests with the government.
US Ambassador Kelly Degnan and EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell have called on the Georgian government to provide proper medical care for the imprisoned ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. The ambassadors further expressed their support for the Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria, who is frequently criticised by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party members.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) members and supporters have gathered in front of the parliament building this evening in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi, demanding former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release from prison. The UNM chairman Nika Melia announced that rallies will be held in several locations of Tbilisi from tomorrow.
The State Inspector’s Service will investigate the alleged physical assault on ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili when he was transferred to Gldani prison hospital on November 8. Saakashvili claims that prison staff verbally and physically abused him, saying ‘[they] dragged me to the ground and hit me several times in the neck.’
Amnesty International has responded to recent developments in Georgia, and accused the Georgian government of carrying out political revenge following former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer to Gldani No. 18 prison hospital, allegedly against his will.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) MPs Khatia Dekanoidze and Tina Bokuchava have met with Parliamentary Speaker Kakha Kuchava, asserting that if imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili is transferred to a private clinic, the UNM will be responsible for not holding rallies nearby. Following the meeting held earlier today, Bokuchava said the parliamentary speaker can play an ‘important role’ in overcoming the ‘political crisis.’
The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service has released another video of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, in which Saakashvili is in an emergency vehicle being taken to Gldani Prison No.18 hospital on Monday, on the 39th day of his hunger strike.
MEP Anna Fotyga has come to Georgia to see former president Mikheil Saakashvili in Gldani Prison No.18 hospital, while MEP Viola von Cramon has criticized the Georgian Dream government for the release of videos yesterday which show the transfer of Saakashvili from Rustavi prison to Gldani on Monday, on his 39th day of hunger strike.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze says that former president Mikheil Saakashvili is receiving all necessary medical services in Gldani Prison No.18 hospital, and that the ministry has invited more doctors to monitor Saakashvili while he is on hunger strike and who will give daily updates about the former president’s health condition.
Georgian Dream party MP Guram Macharashvili says the government has no plans to send former president Mikheil Saakashvili ‘to a foreign resort’ to receive treatment weeks after his 50-day hunger strike.