Ombudswoman rep: Saakashvili was forcibly transferred to Gldani prison hospital
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria stated earlier that the condition in the institution does not fully comply with the recommendations of the medical council. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Representative of the 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.
Gogadze stated that Saakashvili was 'forcibly taken out' from the ambulance car, noting he was not transferred by the helicopter.
He also stated that investigation is underway to find out if he was injured during the incident, saying ‘I did not notice the injury.’
[Saakashvili] refuses to receive treatment and remains on hunger strike,” Gogadze says.
Day 39 of a hunger strike. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 8, 2021
The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service reported earlier today that the former president was transferred to Gldani prison hospital ‘to prevent deterioration in his health due to increased risks.'
Gogadze also reported that Saakashvili is in an ‘isolated ward,’ noting that there are no other prisoners nearby.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria stated earlier that the condition in the institution does not fully comply with the recommendations of the medical council.
Against numerous calls by doctors, Ombudsman, human rights organizations, hungerstriking Pres @SaakashviliM was forcefully taken by the authorities to penitentiary hospital subjecting him to various threats to his health & physical safety in violation of fundamental human rights
— UNM Georgia (ენმ) (@UNMGeorgia) November 8, 2021
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, 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.