Saakashvili not allowed to attend trial hearing in case concerning him
Former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
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.
The case concerns the opposition rally dispersal in Tbilisi in November 2007 and illegal raid in Imedi TV, when Saakashvili was in office.
Saakashvili has been charged with abuse of power in the case.
The Special Penitentiary Service says that the opposition activists had plans to cause unrest on the streets during the transportation of Saakashvili to the court.
The agency also stated that Saakashvili’s presence at the trial could have further complicated his health condition, as the former president has been on hunger strike for 41 days and has recently refused to take the medication to maintain strength.
Saakashvili’s lawyers have addressed three judges in the case, Nino Eleishvili, Lia Orkodashvili and Maia Kokiashvili, to ensure the former president’s presence at the trial, which was declined by the judges.
Later the lawyers demanded the change of the judges, accusing them of making an unfair decision.
During today's trial the judges said that there was no need of preventive detention for Saakashvili as the former president is already serving his sentence, while the judges maintained the measure for former officials, Zurab Adeishvili and David Kezerashvili who also faced charges in the case and are currently on the run.
Next hearing will take place on November 29.
Former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, who also faced charges for 2007 events, was forced to leave the trial as he was demanding Saakashvili’s presence.
Saakashvili’s United National Movement opposition party, which held three rallies in Tbilisi earlier today, is now rallying in front of the court.
The law enforcement are present at the scene in large quantities to ensure peace.
Saakashvili was convicted in Georgia in absentia back in 2018 for abuse of power and was sentenced to six years in prison.
He has also been charged with five other offences.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tbilisi City Court has denied the accusations of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s legal team that the court restricted the ex-president’s right to protection by banning his two lawyers from attending the trial on November 10.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze has stated that the Georgian Dream government ‘will be happy’ if former president Mikheil Saakashvili calls off his 43-day hunger strike ‘without raising preconditions.’Saakashvili said yesterday that he is ready to stop his hunger strike if he is brought to a civil clinic which will provide proper medical care in the post-hunger strike period.
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has again not been allowed by the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia to attend a trial in Tbilisi City Court today about an embezzlement case in which he is implicated.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor's Office says that 140,000 GEL (about $44,454./€38,841) in state funds were spent on weight loss procedures in Innsbruck, Austria when Mikheil Saakashvili served as the third president of Georgia.