Ruling party head stresses Gov’t acting “with responsibility” on imprisoned former President Saakashvili
Kobakhidze’s comment followed a statement by the United States Department of State, which on Monday said the Georgian Government was “responsible for ensuring all basic rights of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili”. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Government was “not only aware” of its responsibility in relation to developments around the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, but also acting in accordance with the duty.
Kobakhidze’s comment followed a statement by the United States Department of State, which on Monday said the Georgian Government was “responsible for ensuring all basic rights of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili”.
In his reaction, the Georgian official said the Government was “very well aware of its responsibility”, and drew a contrast between prison conditions during the former United National Movement Government of Saakashvili and the current state of affairs in detention facilities.
The conditions for prisoners in hospitals are what they should be and human rights are protected. This is our responsibility and this is what makes our Government different from the previous Government. This difference is especially tangible in prisons”, the GD official said.
Georgia’s Justice Minister Rati Bregadze has stressed Saakashvili’s rights are being “fully protected” in detention facilities, from the Rustavi No.12 prison - where he was initially placed - to the hospital of the Gldani No.18 prison - where he was moved in early November last year - as well as the Gori Military Hospital - where he was transferred in late November - and finally at the Vivamedi civilian clinic, where he has been receiving treatment since May 12.
A trial hearing at Tbilisi City Court on granting the release of Saakashvili on medical grounds or postponing the rest of his sentence will be held on Wednesday after being postponed from Friday due to technical issues with ensuring his participation via a video link.
The Georgian Government is responsible for ensuring all basic rights of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, including his right to proper treatment, Voice of America cited the United States Department of State as saying on Monday.
Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister Thea Tsulukiani on Sunday urged the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili to “better cooperate” with medical professionals working to ensure his well-being, adding a change in attitude would be “important for his own health”.
A trial hearing in Tbilisi City Court on granting the release of imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili on medical grounds or postponing the rest of his sentence has been postponed from Friday to Wednesday.
Anri Okhanashvili, the Head of the Georgian Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said the health and safety of imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was “in the best interests” of the Government.
While the Georgian public should be united to present the country "in the best possible way" for the ongoing European integration, it is “unacceptable” that the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition is “purposefully spreading disinformation" on human rights violations and torture in the country, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said on Tuesday in comments on the ongoing controversy around the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said it was “important” that the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili cooperated with the medical staff and the domestic penitentiary system, in his remarks over the latest developments around the former official’s health and sentence.
The trial hearing on whether the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili will be granted release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds has been delayed from Wednesday to next week.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said attempts of “politicised interference” with Georgian justice were “unacceptable”, in his remarks on debates held on Monday in the European Parliament about latest developments around the health and sentence of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.