Vice PM says former President Saakashvili “belongs in prison” in response to Zelenskyy appeal
While Tsulukiani wished Zelenskyy and his team “success” in the “terrible war” waged by Russia against Ukraine, she noted violations in the penitentiary system and elsewhere during the former Government of Georgia. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgia's Vice Prime Minister Thea Tsulukiani on Tuesday responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for Georgian authorities to allow the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili a transfer abroad for treatment by highlighting human rights violations during the latter’s time in Government.
Zelenskyy on Tuesday appealed to Georgian authorities to allow a transfer of Saakashvili - now a citizen of Ukraine - to a Ukrainian- European- or American-based clinic for further treatment, joining similar calls by the former President’s lawyers and a part of Georgia’s domestic opposition.
While Tsulukiani wished Zelenskyy and his team “success” in the “terrible war” waged by Russia against Ukraine, she noted violations in the penitentiary system and elsewhere during the former Government of Georgia.
“I must remind [Zelenskyy] that Mikheil Saakashvili is the President [...] who, during his presidency, established mass violations of human rights in our country, murders and tortures in prisons, and oppression outside of prisons in almost all groups of society”, the Government official said.
Except for those in his immediate circle, everyone was a victim of a great injustice and violation of human rights. This is evidenced by decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. Such a person's place is in prison, Mr. Zelenskyy”, she continued.
Tsulukiani also stressed a decision on whether Saakashvili would be granted release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds was to be made by an independent court and not the Government. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Thursday.
The former President has been receiving treatment at the Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi since May 12, after he was moved from the Gori Military Hospital - where he was transferred in late November 2021 from the hospital of the Gldani No.18 prison. The latter, in turn, served as his detention location after his move from the Rustavi No.12 prison, the initial detention venue, in early November last year.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 on his clandestine return to Georgia ahead of municipal elections. He 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.
The Ukrainian Government was “directly involved” in the “special operation” to send the former President Mikheil Saakashvili to Georgia and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy “bears his share of responsibility” in this regard, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Tuesday in response to the appeal of Zelenskyy to Georgian authorities to transfer the imprisoned former President Saakashvili abroad for medical treatment.
Citizens opposition party MP Aleko Elisashvili on Monday criticised the appeal of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Georgian authorities to enable the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili's transfer abroad for medical treatment as "inappropriate".
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the 2021 arrival of former President Mikheil Saakashvili from Ukraine to Georgia had been a “special operation” to involve the country in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Monday said the goal of the hunger strike declared by several members of the opposition United National Movement party in support of allowing the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili a transfer abroad for medical treatment was for “facilitating his escape from responsibility”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said ensuring the good health of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was in the interest of Georgian authorities and doctors as he had five more years of his sentence to serve.
Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister Thea Tsulukiani on Tuesday said concerns voiced by Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, over the allegedly deteriorated health of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili were “surprising and groundless”.