Ombudswoman: medical equipment recommended by doctors' council not available in hospital where Saakashvili was transferred

“As far as I could see [Saakashvili] had no injuries. He himself does not talk about injuries,” Lomjaria says. Photo: Ombudsman/Facebook.

Agenda.ge, 09 Nov 2021 - 02:16, Tbilisi,Georgia

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. 

I talked to resuscitators, including the chief physician, and visited the surgical and intensive care unit...There is some equipment on the ground,” Lomjaria said. 

Lomjaria also noted that Saakashvili thought he would be transferred to civil hospital as the medical council concluded in the document which was compiled by the doctors without actually seeing Saakashvili based on the information provided by his personal doctor. 

[Saakashvili] wanted to meet with the medical council and was waiting for a meeting at 3 pm, but was refused,” Lomjaria says. 

Representative of the Georgian Public Defender's office Mikheil Gogadze has also visited Saakashvili in prison, stating that he was transferred to the facility under protest. 

As far as I could see [Saakashvili] had no injuries. He himself does not talk about injuries,” Lomjaria says. 

Lomjaria also noted that one of the devices, that was brought to the prison hospital on November 8, is still located in the corridor, noting that hospital staff say they will install it. 

Saakashvili claims he was fraudulently taken to the Gldani hospital, Lomjaria reported. 

As Mikheil Saakashvili says he was told that a council meeting had taken place and it decided that he should be taken to a multifunctional clinic...So, he voluntarily agreed to the above,” she added. 

The personal physician of Saakashvili Nikoloz Kipshidze stated earlier today that the medical council was unable to meet the ex-president due to his refusal. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service announced earlier today that Saakashvili, who reportedly has been on hunger strike for 39 days, was transferred to Gldani No.18 prison hospital ‘to prevent deterioration in his health due to increased risks.’ 

However, ex-president’s lawyer Beka Basilaia said 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 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.

He serves his sentence in the 12th penitentiary institution in Rustavi and is sentenced to six years imprisonment in two cases while additionally being charged with several other offences.