Lawyer: Saakashvili still on hunger strike, gov’t remains silent on demands for transfer to civil clinic
Georgian former president Mikheil Saakashvili has been on hunger strike since October 1. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili continues his hunger strike and refuses to take medication or receive an infusion as the government has not yet responded to his demand to transfer him to a civil clinic, Saakashvili’s lawyer Dimitri Sadzaglishvili stated earlier today.
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.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze told Rustavi 2 the same evening that ‘we will be happy’ if Saakashvili calls off his (43-day) hunger strike ‘without raising preconditions.’
Day 43 of a hunger strike. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 12, 2021
Sadzaglishvili claims that the former president is receiving poor medical services in Gldani Prison No.18 hospital, where he was transferred on Monday to ‘prevent complications in his health,’ than in Rustavi Prison No.12 where he was placed earlier.
Saakashvili’s American John Sandweg says that the former president’s safety ‘will not be protected’ in Gldani prison, as ‘criminals convicted under his presidency are serving their sentence there.’
Sandweg, who met Saakashvili earlier today, also said that the Gldani prison hospital lacks equipment to ensure proper medical care for Saakashvili.
Eighteen Georgian organizations and NGOs have addressed the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture today to carry out monitoring for Saakashvili’s health in prsion.