European Court rejects Saakashvili’s complaint on his transfer to a private clinic
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili says that he returned after eight years in political exile to remove the Georgian Dream government from power. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
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.
Saakashvili is a citizen of Ukraine and currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze posted on Facebook.
He has been on hunger strike for 42 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.’
Strasbourg Court did not satisfy Saakashvili's request on his transfer to private clinic and urged him to call off hunger strike. pic.twitter.com/KgTnRw7Tzm
— Justice Ministry GEO (@Justice_geo) November 11, 2021
The Georgian Dream government officials say that Saakashvili and the UNM have plans to cause unrest if he is brought to a private clinic
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.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) MPs Khatia Dekanoidze and Tina Bokuchava have met with Parliamentary Speaker Kakha Kuchava, asserting that if imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili is transferred to a private clinic, the UNM will be responsible for not holding rallies nearby. Following the meeting held earlier today, Bokuchava said the parliamentary speaker can play an ‘important role’ in overcoming the ‘political crisis.’
Georgian opposition representatives have welcomed the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) monitoring Saakashvili’s health, in accordance with a complaint submitted by the former president's lawyers.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia has released a video which shows the transfer of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili from Rustavi prison to the Gldani Prison No.18 hospital on Monday, to prevent complications to his health on the 39th day of hunger strike.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has refused to answer journalists’ questions about the European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) judgement of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s complaint and his transfer to Gldani No. 18 prison hospital on November 8.
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.
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.
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.
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 imprisoned former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who claims to be on a hunger strike, has released a letter from Gldani prison hospital, saying that he will stop the hunger strike if he is taken to a multifunctional civil clinic for rehabilitation. Saakashvili said that he decided to call off his hunger strike after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) urged him to do so.
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.
A total of 20 NGOs have addressed the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) to observe the human rights situation of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili who has been on hunger strike in prison for 43 days.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze has denied MEP Anna Fotyga's request to visit the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili in prison hospital saying that currently, due to health and safety reasons, only the visitors specified by the Prison Code of Georgia are allowed to make visits. The Prison Code of Georgia states that the accused and convicted persons have a right to a meeting with close relatives, defence lawyers, or diplomatic representatives.
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.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has stated that the video footage of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's transfer to a prison hospital is an ‘insult to every Georgian and is detrimental to both the country and the government.'
The son of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, Eduard Saakashvili, has released a video address in which he asks the Government of Georgia to transfer the ex-president to a civil hospital, noting that his father ‘is in danger.'
Georgian public advocate Nino Lomjaria has plans to address the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to allow her participation in the case of imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili as a third party.
Georgian Minister of Culture and former Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani says that if there is a need, former president Mikheil Saakashvili will be brought to a civil clinic from a prison hospital.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Monday said neither the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili nor his family and legal team had requested involvement of foreign medical professionals in his treatment following an offer by the Georgian authorities.