Ruling party head accuses ex-Pres. Saakashvili of “talentless simulation” at trial hearing
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said the former president Mikheil Saakshvili was “deliberately” harming his health. Photo: Georgian Dream press office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday accused the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili of “talentless simulation” in his participation in the ongoing trial hearing at Tbilisi City Court on granting release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds.
Reacting to Saakashvili’s appearance during his participation in the hearing via a video link from the Vivamedi civilian clinic, where he has been undergoing treatment since May, the MP claimed the former official’s “lost weight” was related to his alleged refusal to follow doctors’ instructions on receiving proper sustenance.
Today the public witnessed another simulation. It seems simulation also requires talent, and this one was a very talentless simulation. As for his look, Saakashvili eats only what he wants and when he wants, which has caused a loss in his weight”, Kobakhidze said.
Unlike the previous two postponed hearings, the Special Penitentiary Service on Thursday ensured Saakashvili’s engagement in the trial via the video link. However, his involvement was switched off after he attempted to address the hearing in the Ukrainian language, “as a citizen of the country”.
The Special Penitentiary Service on Thursday ensured Saakashvili's engagement in a trial hearing via a video link.
The judge dismissed the motion of Saakashvili’s lawyers to invite an interpreter, saying Saakashvili could speak Georgian and the trial was also being conducted in the language. Their request for allowing the former President to take his shirt off and “show the public his [weakened] body” was also denied.
The lawyers also claimed Saakashvili had become unwell during the hearing, and added he may not be involved after the resumption of the session following a break announced due a technical glitch.
The hearing follows an appeal by Saakashvili’s lawyers earlier this month for either granting release or postponement of the rest of his sentence due to “complicated health”. The team presented a health report by a domestic rehabilitation centre that had pointed to more than 20 health issues that could allegedly lead to the former official’s death.
Responding to the claims, Georgian Government officials said Saakashvili was engaged in “self-harm” and “deliberate speculation” to achieve his release.
Saakashvili, a citizen of Ukraine, was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 on his clandestine return to Georgia ahead of municipal elections.
The former president is 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 Georgian Justice Ministry on Wednesday said it was being “completely open and transparent” over questions related to imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, as the latter announced his latest hunger strike and accused the body of violation of his rights of featuring in a trial hearing on granting him release or sentence postponement on medical grounds.
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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.
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Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said it was “categorically unacceptable” to draw parallels between cases involving the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and prospects of Georgia joining the European Union.
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Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Monday highlighted the penitentiary system’s attitude of ensuring health of patients and rights of prisoners, a state of affairs he contrasted with conditions during the former Government, in comments about the latest developments around the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.