Penitentiary service: Saakashvili in stable health, under medical surveillance
Penitentiary service refutes claims on Saakashvili's alleged health deterioration. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia has said that the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's health is stable and under constant medical surveillance, refuting speculation that Saakashvilis' health was allegedly deteriorating.
The penitentiary service asserts that Saakashvili does not need intensive care, but the Gldani prison hospital, where he had been transferred a few days ago, is equipped with 'all necessary modern technique.'
Claims that Mikheil Saakashvili will not be able to receive emergency medical care in case of need are exaggerated attempts to mislead the public, they wrote.
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 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.
Saakashvili 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Penitentiary Service of Georgia has denied speculation that an ambulance was called to Rustavi Prison No.12 due to an alleged deterioration in the health of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili. The penitentiary service said that the ambulance was called to administer vaccinations to prisoners in Prison No.16, which is adjacent to the Prison No.12.
Nine MPs from the parliamentary faction United National Movement - Unified Opposition have gone on hunger strike, demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred from the prison hospital where he is currently receiving care to a civil clinic. The MPs who went on hunger strike are: David Kirkitadze, Akaki Minashvili, Temur Janashia, Bachuki Kardava, Nika Machutadze, Giorgi Godabrelidze, Sulkhan Sibashvili, Levan Bejashvili, and Abdula Ismailov.
The head of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) Nika Melia has announced two protest rallies and intent to block roads on both banks of the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi tomorrow. Melia said that the opposition is giving a 'warning sign' to the government.
Opposition United National Movement (UNM) member Giorgi Baramidze and opera singer Paata Burchuladze have announced a hunger strike, demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred from the prison hospital where he is currently receiving care to a civil clinic.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze has stated that there is no need nor obligation to let the Ukrainian Public Defender enter the prison holding former president Mikheil Saakashvili, noting that 'when a prisoner is in a medical facility, we are obliged to do our best to protect his health.'
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has refused online participation in a trial hearing today which concerns his illegal crossing from Ukraine to Georgia at the end of September 2021, Tbilisi City Court judge David Kurtradze said earlier today.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Sunday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition in detention was "stable" and he was under 24-hour monitoring of the doctors of its Medical Department.