Saakashvili's doctor: ex-president's condition is 'severe'

The imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's personal doctor Nikoloz Kipshidze has said that the ex-president who was transferred from a prison clinic to a military hospital last night is in 'severe' condition.

Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after a clandestine return from eight years in political exile. He denied all charges and announced a hunger strike.

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 a prison hospital on November 11, saying that he was ready to call off his hunger strike if taken to a civil clinic for rehabilitation.

• Imprisoned ex-pres. Saakashvili on hunger strike reportedly faints, receives medical assistance

After an episode of fainting, Saakashvili was offered by the government to be transferred to Gori Military Hospital, which he agreed to.

• Ex-pres. Saakashvili agrees to be transferred to Gori military hospital, to stop hunger strike

Saakashvili's lawyer Nika Gvaramia said that the ex-president's transfer to the military hospital went 'normally,'  'without accidents.'

Saakashvili was transferred to Gori Military Hospital last night. Photo: qartli.ge

The chairman of Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) party Nika Melia asserted that the UNM will not hold any rallies near the Gori military hospital. However, he maintained that the party will fight for Saakashvili's release from 'unlawful imprisonment.'

• UNM: there will be ‘no provocations’ if Saakashvili is transferred to private clinic

The UNM members, Droa opposition party leader Elene Khoshtaria and opera singer Paata Burchuladze, who were on hunger strike demanding Saakasvili's transfer to a civil clinic, also called off their hunger strike following the ex-president's transfer from a prison hospital.

In his latest letter, Saakashvili wrote that he is ready to stand before a 'fair court' to defend the 'historical truth. The former president maintains that his detention is 'illegal.'

Saakashvili, who is currently a citizen of Ukraine, fled Georgia in 2013, a year after the UNM lost the parliamentary elections to the Georgian Dream. In 2018, Georgian court convicted him in absentia on two counts of abuse of power and sentenced him to six years in prison.

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

He is now facing five additional charges, including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.