Ex-Pres Saakashvili’s distancing from Georgian politics “unimaginable” - opposition MP
Khatia Dekanoidze, a United National Movement opposition party MP, on Wednesday did not confirm reports on the alleged withdrawal of former President Mikheil Saakashvili from domestic politics. Photo: Georgii Zubko
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The distancing of imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili from Georgian politics is “unimaginable”, Khatia Dekanoidze, the Chair of the United National Movement party in the state legislature, said on Wednesday in comments on recent statements by Saakashvili’s lawyers about the former President's plans to withdraw from politics due to “poor health”.
In her remarks, Dekanoidze dismissed media reports on the former President having discussed his alleged exit from politics with fellow party members.
The question has not been raised or discussed. Saakashvili is an inseparable part of Georgian politics. As for his participation in elections, it is completely up to Saakashvili and the Georgian people”, Dekanoidze said, making no mention that Saakashvili’s Georgian citizenship was automatically revoked in 2015 after the former President received Ukrainian citizenship.
Speaking about Saakashvili’s frequent statements and posts over Ukraine, Dekanoidze suggested they were “very natural” due to the former President’s links with the country.
Saakashvili’s lawyers said earlier this month the former President had plans to exit politics, claiming he was suffering serious health problems.
In response to the reports, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said Saakashvili’s presence in domestic politics was “unlawful” as the former President held Ukrainian citizenship and chaired the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council before being arrested in the Georgian capital last year.
Medical professionals and not politicians or lawyers should discuss the matter of health of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, ruling Georgian Dream party MP and former Health Minister David Sergeenko said on Friday in comments on recent statements by Saakashvili’s lawyers about the former President's plans to withdraw from politics due to poor health.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday welcomed reports of former President Mikheil Saakashvili planning to retire from political life, saying Saakashvili’s presence in domestic politics was “unlawful” as the former President held Ukrainian citizenship and chaired the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council before being arrested in the Georgian capital last year.
If the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili decides to withdraw from politics, the move will “in no way” lead to his release from prison, Mikheil Sarjveladze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday in response to comments by Saakashvili’s lawyers about his alleged plans to leave the political scene to “look after his health”.
Overall six criminal charges are filed against recently arrested Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili who has been convicted to six years of imprisonment in two cases while four other criminal cases are still being heard in Tbilisi City Court.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said on Monday the Government may invite independent medical experts to check the health of the jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, in a bid to “remove all questions” around the matter amid claims by Saakashvili’s attorneys and family that the former President is in “urgent need” of “proper treatment” abroad.
British medical expert Cornelius Katona on Tuesday visited the convicted former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili in a Tbilisi clinic following claims by Saakashvili’s lawyers and family about his deteriorated health.