US Ambassador praises Georgian public defender, condemns attempts 'to undermine' her work
She also touched upon the issue of the former president’s health and stated that ‘when a human life is at risk there should be no debate about providing the care that is needed.’ Photo: US Embassy to Georgia.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has commended Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria’s work on the case of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, noting that attempts to undermine or threaten the advocate's office are unacceptable.
Ambassador Degnan’s statement was preceded by the head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze’s accusation that Lomjaria might face legal troubles due to the conclusion of her medical council that Saakashvili requires ‘immediate transfer’ to a multipurpose civil hospital.
She also said that the US ‘puts great confidence’ in what the public defender’s office reports.
The council of doctors created by Lomjaria’s office has concluded that the ex-president’s condition is ‘critical,’ noting that existing health issues may induce coma and other complications.
The public defender and her team are doing exactly what Georgia’s constitution empowers them to do. They are the defenders of human rights of all citizens of Georgia and they are doing a remarkable job under intense pressure to provide accurate, impartial and objective information that Georgian citizens need,” Ambassador Degnan said.
She also touched upon the issue of the former president’s health and stated that ‘when a human life is at risk there should be no debate about providing the care that is needed.’
Day 49 of a hunger strike - according to his lawyer Mikheil Saakashvili lost consciousness. #FreeSaakashvili
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) November 18, 2021
Saakashvili, who is serving a sentence for abuse of power, considers himself a political prisoner and has been on hunger strike since the day he was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1.
Along with Ambassador Degnan, Amnesty International also deplored attacks against the Georgian public advocate, stating that the Georgian government should respect the work of human rights institutions, while the US Department of State has praised Lomjaria’s work on Saakashvili’s case.
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.
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.
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.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the state legislature, on Thursday slammed the country’s Ombudsperson Nino Lomjaria for “backing the radical opposition”, adding GD had not yet selected its candidate for the position after Lomjaria’s term in office expires in the coming autumn.