Penitentiary service releases footage of ex-pres. Saakashvili’s condition in Vivamedi clinic [VIDEO]
The Service said the footage “depicted” the state’s attitude toward the former President and the latter’s “abusive and aggressive behaviour” towards the medical staff. Photo: Screenshot from video by the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia
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The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Wednesday posted footage on social media of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, which shows his condition in different periods at the Vivamedi civilian clinic.
For rejecting the allegations [made by the ex-president’s lawyers over the recent days] about Saakashvili’s aggravated health conditions and due to “high public interest” in the matter, the released footage “clearly” shows Saakashvili’s “simulated actions” to impede the court’s activities, to mislead the public and international partners, the state body said.
The Service said the footage “depicted” the state’s attitude toward the former President and the latter’s “abusive and aggressive behaviour” towards the medical staff.
In an interview with the Imedi channel, Rati Bregadze, the Georgian Justice Minister said that by publishing the footage, “the Service has a ‘legitimate goal’ to properly inform the public that no one is tortured in Georgia but [...] show that the state ‘tries its best’ to ensure the protection of human rights”.
Saakashvili has been receiving treatment in the Vivamedi clinic since May 12, after he was moved from the Gori Military Hospital - where he was transferred in late November from the hospital of the Gldani No.18 prison - where he was moved in early November last year from the Rustavi No.12 prison - where he was initially placed.
The third President, currently a citizen of Ukraine, was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 on his clandestine return to Georgia ahead of municipal elections. The former Georgian president has been serving a six-year term for abuse of power in two separate cases stemming back to his time in office, while three other cases are pending.
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The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service on Wednesday rejected claims by the family and legal team of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili that said he was “unable to move” due to the allegedly worsening health condition, and released footage from the clinic where the former official is receiving treatment to disprove the statement.