Ombudswoman's medical council: Saakashvili should 'immediately' be taken to civil clinic
The council of doctors says that Saakashvili's health is 'critical.' Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
Saakashvili's personal doctor Nikoloz Kipshidze, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze, and ruling party MPs reportedly also went to visit Saakashvili in prison hospital tonight.
The former president's supporters assume that he might be transferred to Gori Military Hospital tonight. However, the speculation has not been confirmed yet.
A medical panel composed of eight health experts invited by the Public Defender presented their conclusion on November 17, asserting that Saakashvili needed transfer to a multi-profile, well-equipped civilian clinic.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after a clandestine return from eight years in political exile. He denies all charges and considers himself a ‘political prisoner.’
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.
In a letter released from prison hospital, Saakashvili wrote that he is ready to call off his hunger strike if taken to a civil clinic for rehabilitation.
The former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili who is currently on a hunger strike in prison hospital has reportedly fainted during a meeting with his lawyers. Saakashvili's lawyer Nika Gvaramia has confirmed to the media that the former president was assisted by doctors and is now 'fine.'
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 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.
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.
Droa opposition party leader Elene Khoshtaria has stated that she will not take medication to maintain strength on the 17th day of her hunger strike as former president Mikheil Saakashvili reportedly fainted in a prison hospital yesterday and he was still not brought to a civil clinic. Khoshtaria, who is on hunger strike in the parliament building of Georgia, is demanding Saakashvili’s transfer to a civil clinic ‘for proper treatment.’
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.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) party is holding a rally in central Tbilisi in front of the parliament building waiting for ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s decision whether or not he will agree to be transferred to Gori military hospital as the Georgian government offered earlier.