Justice minister: we’ll be happy if Saakashvili calls off his hunger strike without preconditions
Former president Mikheil Saakashvili is still on hunger strike as the Georgian Dream government has not fulfilled his demand to bring him to a civil clinic. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
The European Court of Human Rights has called on Saakashvili to call off his hunger strike. We would be happy if Saakashvili acts in this way, but without raising any preconditions. Why should [he] be brought to a civil clinic, can anyone explain?” Bregadze told Rustavi TV late yesterday.
Bregadze says that if Saakashvili stops his hunger strike, he will be brought back to Rustavi Prison No. 12 from Gldani Prison No. 18 hospital and his well-being will be ensured.
According to the Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze, Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred to the №18 Penitentiary Service medical facility to minimize the risk of his health condition and prevent possible complications.
— Justice Ministry GEO (@Justice_geo) November 8, 2021
More Information: https://t.co/g0xO9YkWVr pic.twitter.com/0QXxNIevB8
Saakashvili says that the actions of the Georgian Dream government ‘are a planned assassination operation from the first day of my hunger strike to the present day.’
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after a clandestine return from eight years in political exile. He considers himself a ‘political prisoner’ and denies all charges.
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.