EU ambassador welcomes ombudswoman's efforts in monitoring Saakashvili's health
Hartzell praised the public defender's efforts, saying that Lomjaria and her team do an 'important' work in terms of human rights protection in Georgia. Photo: EU Delegation's press office
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EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has said that he welcomes Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria's decision to establish a group of medical experts to monitor the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's health.
Lomjaria announced yesterday that she invited a group of medical experts to 'monitor the adequacy and timeliness' of medical services provided to Saakashvili.
Public Defender Establishes Multiprofile Group of Experts to Monitor Mikheil Saakashvili's Medical Services https://t.co/MUcTf26ymm
— Ombudsman of Georgia (@Ombudsman_Geo) November 16, 2021
Hartzell praised the public defender's efforts, saying that Lomjaria and her team do an 'important' work in terms of human rights protection in Georgia.
Welcome additional medical expertise acquired by @Ombudsman_Geo and her team to assess Mr Saakashvili’s health situation objectively, as part of fulfilling her important constitutional mandate to supervise the protection of human rights in Georgia. pic.twitter.com/08Bxf6vsMv
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) November 17, 2021
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.
Day 48 of a hunger strike. Mikheil Saakashvili’s health condition is getting critical. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 17, 2021
The medical council was created in the middle of October to monitor Saakashvili's health and issue recommendations regarding his treatment.
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 Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has stated that the medical council created to monitor the health condition of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili ‘should intensify its work’ and called on the Georgian Justice Ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service to ‘ensure the full protection of his health.’
Georgian public advocate Nino Lomjaria has plans to address the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to allow her participation in the case of imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili as a third party.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has stated that the Gldani No.18 prison hospital, where ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred earlier today, is not provided with two medical devices - MRT and catheterisation equipment - that were recommended by the medical council.
US Ambassador Kelly Degnan and EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell have called on the Georgian government to provide proper medical care for the imprisoned ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. The ambassadors further expressed their support for the Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria, who is frequently criticised by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party members.
A medical council composed of eight health experts under Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has presented its conclusion on the health of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, stating that the patient’s condition on the 49th day of his hunger strike is ‘critical,’ and he needs an ‘immediate transfer’ to a multi-profile, well-equipped civilian clinic.
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze has accused a medical panel invited by public advocate Nino Lomjaria of coming to a ‘fake conclusion’ about the health of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, stating that this may cause legal trouble for Lomjaria.
A medical council invited by the Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria who visited the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili on a hunger strike in prison hospital after an episode of fainting, have said that the ex-president should 'immediately' be transferred to a civil clinic. The council of doctors says that Saakashvili's health is 'critical,' and he should be taken to a civil clinic before 'irreversible damage' occurs.
The US Department of State has urged the Georgian government to treat former president Mikheil Saakashvili who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, ‘fairly and with dignity.’ In a statement released yesterday, the Department of State also ‘strongly urged’ the Georgian government to ensure Saakashvili’s presence at all court hearings for his pending criminal cases, in accordance with the law.
Amnesty International says that attacks against the Georgian public advocate during her human rights work ‘are unacceptable,’ and that the Georgian government should respect the work of human rights institutions.
Vice speaker of the Parliament and former health minister of Georgia, David Sergeenko, member of the Parliament Mikheil Sarjveladze, and the chairman of the Health Committee Dimitri Khundadze visited former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili in prison yesterday.
Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic has called on Georgian politicians to 'fully respect' the public defender's mandate. Mijatovic said that Georgian MPs criticizing Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria for her efforts to defend the incarcerated former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's rights is 'unacceptable.'
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has become a member of the Board of Directors of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). The Board of Directors manages the organisations' activities and makes decisions regarding its future projects.
A group of medical experts invited by Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has examined imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's health, refuting allegations that Saakashvili is being abused with pharmaceuticals.