Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria on Wednesday said she was ready to discuss the matter of the health condition of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili with “competent medical representatives” of the Justice Ministry and Penitentiary Service, and called on the state institutions to avoid “delaying” a review of the matter.
Speaking following comments by Saakashvili’s supporters on alleged deterioration of his health in detention, and responses from state authorities denying the former, Lomjaria said she and a group of medical experts would like to hold an “expert discussion” of the matter and make it public.
The Ombudswoman urged the Ministry and the Service against “artificially delaying” the discussion, citing the condition of Saakashvili was “considered to have deteriorated significantly and a timely provision of qualified medical care is crucial”.
Lomjaria also responded to the Justice Minister who recently raised a question on whether the Public Defender had disclosed information on Saakashvili’s health and thereby broken regulations on personal data. She said she had received authorisation from the imprisoned former President to make the information public.
A group of physicians appointed by the Public Defender published an evaluation last week that said Saakashvili’s health had “further deteriorated” since their previous visit to the Rustavi No. 12 Prison in January. The United National Movement opposition party and family of the imprisoned ex-President have requested Saakashvili be allowed to leave for treatment abroad.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi last fall after his clandestine return to Georgia. He had been found guilty of abuse of power in two cases in absentia in 2018, and faces additional charges including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal and illegal border crossing.