Saakashvili still not allowed to attend trial hearing in own case

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. 

The case concerns the embezzlement of 8.8 million GEL in state funds while Saakashvili served as the president of Georgia. 

Earlier this month, Saakashvili was not allowed to attend a trial hearing in another case which concerns the dispersal of an opposition rally in Tbilisi in November 2007, and an illegal raid on Imedi TV. 

Saakashvili was charged with abuse of power in the case. 

• What criminal charges have been filed against recently arrested ex-president Saakashvili?

The Special Penitentiary Service says that opposition activists had plans to cause unrest on the streets during the transportation of Saakashvili to court during the previous trial hearing, and that law enforcement agencies are investigating this.

In a written statement the Ministry of Justice Penitentiary Department said the refusal was due to both security as well as medical concerns since “Saakashvili had ceased receiving treatment”

Chief penitentiary medical officer had earlier said #Saakashvili was being treated pic.twitter.com/QAzzse8apf

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