Ruling party MP on Saakashvili’s transfer back to prison: ‘law must be obeyed’
Saakashvili’s lawyer Nika Gvaramia said, following his visit to the prison, that during the transfer ‘no physical violence was used’ against the ex-president, noting that he was ‘very weak.’ Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Dream party MP Gia Volski says the law has not been violated by the transfer of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili to Rustavi No. 12 prison, noting that after recovery he had to be brought back to jail.
The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service has confirmed Saakashvili’s transfer earlier today, stating that the process was ‘carried out in full compliance with the legislation.’
The ex-president, who was undergoing treatment in Gori military hospital following a hunger strike starting the day of his arrest on October 1, was transferred from the hospital back to Rustavi No. 12 prison earlier today.
Davit Sergeenko, a GD MP, says that it was not an ‘unexpected decision,’ noting that ‘it was known in advance that he would return once his health had stabilised.’
It will not occur to any physician to artificially aggravate or alleviate a patient's condition. So lawyers, non-physicians and enthusiasts, let doctors do their job,” Sergeenko added.
Saakashvili’s lawyer Nika Gvaramia said, following his visit to the prison, that during the transfer ‘no physical violence was used’ against the ex-president, noting that he was ‘very weak.’
They put him in a wheelchair and he had no ability to resist. He was out of it, he had taken sleeping pills and had high blood pressure,” says Gvaramia.
Opposition United National Movement party Head Nika Melia states that the decision regarding Saakashvili’s transfer was not made in Georgia but in Russia, adding that ‘Russian special services are involved in this process.’
At 2am, Pres @SaakashviliM was abducted by Penit Serv & moved back to Rustavi prison, likely by force. Pres's health seriously worsened in Gori hosp due to inadequate treatment & repeated psychological torture; has severe neurological complications; ind't doctors were not allowed
— UNM Georgia (ენმ) (@UNMGeorgia) December 30, 2021
Melia, along with more than 150 other protesters and supporters of Saakashvili, has been on hunger strike since December 21, demanding the former president’s release from prison.
Opposition MP Salome Samadashvili has called on the Georgian government to allow independent expert to assess the former president’s condition.
I appeal to the authorities to immediately give an independent medical expert the opportunity to meet with Mikheil Saakashvili and assess his health. This is something that urgently needs to be done,” Samadashvili said.
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, also responded to the recent developments, saying that ‘his health is critical,’ adding that ‘such actions of the Georgian authorities may be evaluated as torture.’
Transportation in his state back to the penitentiary institution is a violation of Article 22 of the Minimum Standard Rules of Conducting Prisoners,” Denisova reports.
The former president was originally transferred to Gori military hospital on November 19.
Saakashvili and his lawyers insisted that he stay in hospital for further treatment.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry released a statement on December 28, calling on the Georgian government ‘to treat ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili with respect,’ adding that he cannot be transferred back to prison due to his poor health, noting he needs further treatment.
Saakashvili, who is a citizen of Ukraine, was found guilty of abuse of power in two cases in absentia in 2018 and is currently serving his sentence of six years of imprisonment following his clandestine return in October from eight years in political exile.