Georgian doctors: help move imprisoned ex. Pres. Saakashvili to civil hospital

The Union of Georgian Medical Associations has demanded imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred to a civil hospital in order to ‘save his life.’

In an official letter the doctors state that they fully support the doctors who are members of the council assessing Saakashvili’s health, as well as doctors of  Prison No. 18, ‘who have to manage a very difficult situation in inappropriate conditions’.

Doctors request Saakashvili be transferred to a civil hospital immediately. They also note that the security of the transportation process and further treatment should be ensured by law enforcement agencies.

The Union of Georgian Medical Associations calls on everyone not to involve doctors in politics.

Famous Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces in 2019, has called on the doctors of Gldani Prison No. 18 hospital and  medical staff of Rustavi prisons to express their position regarding Saakashvili’s health.

Gaprindashvili noted that doctors are politically neutral individuals who can adequately assess the situation.

If doctors don’t express their opinion on Saakashvili’s health condition, then everything will be blamed on them. I am also very interested in the opinion of the Parliamentary Health Committee”, said Gaprindashvili.

Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained in Tbilisi on October 1, faces several criminal charges. He denies all charges and remains on hunger strike.

Saakashvili’s lawyers demand he be sent to a civil hospital for treatment, but the justice ministry and the special penitentiary facility claim the prison hospital is adequate and there is no need to bring the ex-president elsewhere.