23 MEPs call for sanctions in response to 'degrading treatment' of ex-pres. Saakashvili
MEPs call to 'react promptly' and ensure that EU representatives are allowed to visit Saakashvili in prison. Photo: Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images
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23 members of the European Parliament have signed a letter calling the EU to consider sanctions against individuals who enabled 'degrading treatment' of the incarcerated former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili.
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 later claimed that prison staff verbally and physically abused him during the transfer, saying ‘[they] dragged me to the ground and hit me several times in the neck.’
The MEPs addressed the President of the European Commission Ursula von Der Leyen, Vice President of the Commission Josep Borrell, and the President of the European Council Charles Michel to 'react promptly' and ensure that EU representatives are allowed to visit Saakashvili in prison.
Me and several other members of the @Europarl_EN have signed a letter to call the #EU to action concerning the mistreatment of @SaakashviliM. This inhuman and degrading treatment needs to be addressed at once! @vonderleyen @EPPGroup @EEinEU @errnews @euronews @POLITICOEurope pic.twitter.com/kTbghQcwpa
— Riho Terras (@RihoTerras) November 19, 2021
Saakashvili, along with his supporters, demanded to be transferred to a civil clinic. In a letter released from a prison hospital, he wrote that he would call off his hunger strike if taken to a 'high-tech' clinic for rehabilitation.
Saakashvili was eventually transferred to Gori Military Hospital last night, following an episode of fainting.
@SaakashviliM agreed to end a 50-day hunger strike upon his transfer to the military hospital in Gori later today. Ex-Pres also says he won't stop fighting for his release from illegal captivity through a fair trial/even special court in accordance w/ the law & national dignity
— UNM Georgia (ენმ) (@UNMGeorgia) November 19, 2021
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell welcomed Saakashvili's transfer from a prison hospital, expressing hope for 'further progress.'
Welcome actions of yesterday to address serious health situation of Mikheil Saakashvili, and end of hunger strikes of Ms Khoshtaria and others. Hope opportunity will be seized for further progress. Fundamental rights, objective medical advice and due legal process remain key.
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) November 20, 2021
Saakashvili, who is currently a citizen of Ukraine, fled Georgia in 2013, a year after his United National Movement (UNM) party 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.
He is now facing five additional charges, including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.