French Ambassador: Saakashvili's safety is of 'paramount concern'

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.

Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after a clandestine return from eight years in political exile, considers himself a ‘political prisoner’ and claims to be on a hunger strike.

The former president, who was serving his sentence in Rustavi Prison No.12, was transferred to Gldani prison hospital on November 8 to ‘prevent deterioration in his health due to increased risks,' the penitentiary service reported.

• US, EU embassies point at gov’t responsibility for Saakashvili’s rights

Colas asserted that both the integrity of the penitentiary system and Saakashvili's dignity are 'legitimate concerns.'

The paramount concern is the health and safety of Mr. Saakashvili as he is in detention. It is the responsibility of the authorities to make sure these are fully preserved, the ambassasor said.

My statement on the situation in ???????? regarding the detention of Mr Saakashvili. https://t.co/fIFrZ6C3iM

— Diégo Colas (@ColasDiego) November 10, 2021