US calls on Georgian gov’t to ensure Saakashvili’s urgent needs
The US government says that they are closely observing the situation around former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
The US government has called on Georgian authorities to take steps to ensure the country’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili’s, urgent psychological and physical needs, US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price stated yesterday.
The Department of State also encouraged the Georgian government to treat Saakashvili ‘fairly and with dignity,’ noting that they are ‘closely observing’ the situation around the former president.
Price said that the statements made by the Georgian public defender raise questions on Saakashvili’s conditions in prison.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, a day before Georgian municipal elections.
He claims he returned after eight years in political exile to remove the Georgian Dream government from power.
Day 41 of a hunger strike. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 10, 2021
Saakashvili is a citizen of Ukraine and currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.
He has been on hunger strike for 41 days and was transferred to a prison hospital on Monday to prevent complications in his health.
The former president’s United National Movement party is holding rallies across the country to demand the transportation of Saakashvili to a civil clinic, then his release from prison and annulment of recent municipal election results.
Saakashvili claims that his release from prison will lead to snap parliamentary elections and the ‘final defeat of the Georgian Dream.’
He was convicted in Georgia back in 2018 for abuse of power in absentia and was sentenced to six years in prison.
He has also been charged with several other offences.
A trial in one of the cases involving Saakashvili, the opposition rally dispersal in Tbilisi in 2007 and illegal seizure of property of tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, is scheduled at Tbilisi City Court in the afternoon.
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.
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.
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.
Overall six criminal charges are filed against recently arrested Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili who has been convicted to six years of imprisonment in two cases while four other criminal cases are still being heard in Tbilisi City Court.
Several opposition activists were detained by police at the rallies of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party earlier today, at the buildings of the Ministry of Health of Georgia and the State Security Service.
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.
Georgian law enforcement arrested 46 individuals at rallies organized by the United National Movement (UNM) in Tbilisi earlier today, including at the buildings of the State Security Service and the Ministry of Health. The Georgian Interior Ministry says the UNM activists violated the law of assembly and demonstration, attempting to block state buildings and disobeying police officers.
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has not been allowed by the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia to attend a trial in Tbilisi City Court today which is discussing a case involving him.
French Ambassador to Georgia Diego Colas has said that Georgian authorities are responsible to ensure the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's health and safety. Colas asserted that both the worries about the integrity of the penitentiary system and the worries about Saakashvili's dignity are 'legitimate concerns.'
The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a complaint by former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili on his transfer to a private clinic from a prison hospital, and instead urged him to call off his hunger strike, the Georgian Ministry of Justice said yesterday and released an interim judgement of the court.The court demanded from the Georgian government to inform them about Saakashvili’s state of health and ensure proper medical care for him now and in the post-hunger-strike period.