Justice Minister denies MEP Fotyga's request to visit Saakashvili
Justice Minister asked the MEP to explain what she meant by the term 'political prisoners.'
Photo: Justice Ministry's press office
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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.
Fotyga sent an official letter to Bregadze on November 9, requesting to visit Saakashvili with her advisor from the European Parliament.
In the past, I have also requested to visit former political prisoners and were always allowed to do so, which was a sign of good will and transparency of the Georgian authorities, she wrote.
Bregadze, who responded on November 12, wrote that since 'Saakashvili continues to refuse essential medical treatment,' for health and safety reasons, only the visitors specified by the Prison Code of Georgia are allowed to make visits.
Justice Minister asked the MEP to explain what she meant by the term 'political prisoners.'
It would be much appreciated if you could clarify what is implied under this terminology [political prisoners], given the fact that during the period of Georgian Dream being in power, none of the Georgian prisoners was considered as such by the European Court of Human Rights or any other authoritative institutions, he added.
Fotyga expressed her disappointment over the refusal to visit Saakashvili earlier today, saying that the Georgian government is 'fully responsible' for the former president's well-being.
I was refused to visit Michael Saakashvili in prison. I regret the lack of good will &transparency on the side of gvt. of Georgia &reiterate that there still is a chance of solving this situation. Gvt. of Georgia is fully responsible for life and health of the former president.
— Anna Fotyga Biuro Poselskie (@AnnaFotyga_PE) November 13, 2021
Saakashvili, who is currently a citizen of Ukraine, fled Georgia in 2013, a year after his United National Movement (UNM) lost the parliamentary elections to the Georgian Dream (GD). In 2018, Georgian court convicted him in absentia on two counts of abuse of power and sentenced him to six years in prison.
He is now facing five additional charges, including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.
The former president was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after a clandestine return from eight years in political exile. He considers himself a ‘political prisoner’ and claims to be on a hunger strike.
Saakashvili, 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.
The former president released a letter from prison hospital on November 11, saying that he is ready to call off his hunger strike if taken to a multifunctional clinic for rehabilitation.