Parliament Vice Speaker: imprisoned former President Saakashvili “not in position to impose political conditions”
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was “not in a position to impose political conditions” in return for accepting the Justice Ministry’s offer to transfer him from prison healthcare to a civilian clinic. Photo: 1tv.ge
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Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was “not in a position to impose political conditions” in return for accepting the Justice Ministry’s offer to transfer him from prison healthcare to a civilian clinic.
Questions of Saakashvili's health will be resolved “not in a political dimension but in medical context,” Talakvadze said, adding the politician was “misled by his friends and supporters” while the Government was ensuring protection of his rights in detention.
On Tuesday, Saakashvili said he would accept the proposal of being transferred from the prison clinic in the city of Rustavi to Vivamedi, a clinic in capital Tbilisi, if permanent access to visits for his family members, his doctor Nika Kipshidze and members of a commission set up by Empathy non-governmental organisation was ensured.
He also demanded lawyers and members of United National Movement opposition party be allowed to visit him during working hours.
The list of conditions followed an offer of the Ministry for the transfer, which itself was made after recent claims by Saakashvili’s medical team and the opposition party members about a deterioration of his health in detention.
The Ministry said Saakashvili was provided with “adequate treatment” in prison, but refused to follow the recommendations and take the full complement of medications.
A report by a council formed by the country’s Public Defender said in late April the former President had developed anorexia and was suffering from a lack of proteins as a result of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, recommending a “timely, complex neuro-psychological and physical rehabilitation” for him.
Saakashvili, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, is serving a sentence for abuse of power stemming back to his time as President. He was detained after his clandestine return to Georgia in October last year, prior to the 2021 municipal elections.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has welcomed the proposal by the country’s Justice Ministry to transfer the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili to a civilian clinic for medical examination and treatment on Tuesday.
The Georgian Justice Ministry has proposed transferring the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili to Vivamedi, a civilian clinic in capital Tbilisi, for medical checks and treatment, Minister Rati Bregadze said after the Government meeting on Tuesday.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Sunday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition in detention was "stable" and he was under 24-hour monitoring of the doctors of its Medical Department.
Georgian Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze on Monday said the country’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili was receiving “proper treatment” in prison, with “all necessary conditions” created by authorities both for ensuring adequate diet and visitor access to the politician.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday denied intentions to pardon the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili or the recently imprisoned Director General of Mtavari Arkhi channel Nika Gvaramia.