Ruling party sec gen: transferring imprisoned former president abroad for health reason “not up to party”

In his comments over the matter, Kaladze noted there was a “relevant agency” making decisions on transfers for inmates in penitentiary facilities of the country. Photo: Tbilisi City Hall

Agenda.ge, 14 Nov 2022 - 14:42, Tbilisi,Georgia

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”.

In his comments over the matter, Kaladze noted there was a “relevant agency” making decisions on transfers for inmates in penitentiary facilities of the country.

It is not up to the party. Saakashvili is in prison and is serving his sentence. There is a relevant agency that makes relevant decisions regarding all prisoners, which is necessary based on the health and safety of a prisoner”, Kaladze said.

Arrested in Tbilisi on his clandestine return to the country ahead of October 2021 municipal elections, Saakashvili has claimed his former 49-day hunger strike and “improper treatment while in custody” have “seriously deteriorated” his health.

Rejecting 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.