Justice Minister: Gov’t has “done everything” to protect imprisoned former President’s right to health
The official stressed Saakashvili had been provided with qualified medical services “many times” during his imprisonment. Photo: Ministry of Justice
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Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Thursday said the Government had done “everything” to protect the right to health of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
In his comments, Bregadze noted the Ministry was going to commission the National Forensics Bureau “in the coming days” for a “complex examination” of Saakashvili’s health condition and ensure “not a single question mark remains” over his state.
This person [Saakashvili] has been at the Vivamedi clinic [in Tbilisi] for several months, and his health condition is constantly monitored by the [medical] staff. His state of health is of public interest, and we would like to receive additional information to ensure that there are no question marks surrounding this person's state of health”, Bregadze said.
The official stressed Saakashvili had been provided with qualified medical services “many times” during his imprisonment.
Saakashvili was provided with qualified medical services many times during his imprisonment. When he needed medical help, it was provided. When someone says that Saakashvili's condition has improved or worsened, the doctors should [be the ones to] talk about all this. The Government has done everything to protect his right to health”, he continued.
“As for the examination, we want to conduct it in order to get the most comprehensive, all-round information about this person's health”, Bregadze concluded.
Arrested in Tbilisi on his clandestine return to the country ahead of October 2021 municipal elections, Saakashvili has claimed his 49-day hunger strike and “improper treatment while in custody” have “seriously deteriorated” his health.
Opposing the allegations, Georgian Dream authorities have maintained the rights of the former President have been “fully protected”, including in his transfer for treatment to Gori Military Hospital in November and then to Vivamedi clinic in May.
Facing several charges, Saakasvili is currently serving a six-year prison term after he was sentenced in absentia in 2018 on two separate charges of abuse of power.
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.
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.
Georgia's imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili is leaving the United National Movement opposition party and Georgian politics as “his agenda has changed” and taking care of own health has become his main task, lawyer Valeri Gelbakhiani announced on Saturday.
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 on Thursday rejected claims by a former supreme court judge about interference in courts by ruling Georgian Dream authorities as “unacceptable” and urged any claimant to “address relevant state bodies” if they believed pressure had been exerted on them.
Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and the secretary general of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the question of allowing a transfer of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili abroad due to his health condition was “not up to the ruling party”.
The imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is “blackmailing his patrons to escape justice”, and the latter may order his assassination in custody to “kill two birds with one stone”, a statement by Popular Force, a movement founded by former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday.
Anri Okhanashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, on Monday said "relevant state agencies" were ensuring the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was "safe, provided with all necessary services, and served his sentence in an environment prescribed by the Georgian legislation".