Justice Minister provides “detailed information” on Saakashvili to diplomatic corps
The European Union Delegation in Georgia and diplomats from embassies of EU member countries and the United States heard from the Minister, who explained the former official’s conditions in detention and treatment provided to him since his placement in the penitentiary system. Photo: Ministry of Justice
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Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Wednesday met representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps in the country to provide them with “detailed information” about developments around the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, the Ministry said.
The European Union Delegation in Georgia and diplomats from embassies of EU member countries and the United States heard from the Minister, who explained the former official’s conditions in detention and treatment provided to him since his placement in the penitentiary system.
As much transparency as possible is a priority for the Ministry of Justice, and the public and all stakeholders will continue to be informed about the issue in the future”, the Ministry also added.
The controversy around Saakashvili’s ongoing detention stems from claims by his legal team and a part of the domestic opposition on the former President requiring treatment abroad. A trial hearing on whether to grant the former official a release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds is ongoing.
Saakashvili has been receiving treatment at the Vivamedi clinic 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.
The third President of Georgia, currently a citizen of Ukraine, 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.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday said the “principal question” on whether she would pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvi would be “answered in time”.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said pardoning the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili would be a “gravest” move for President Salome Zourabichvili and her career.
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.
Georgia’s Special Investigation Service on Monday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and his team had refused to provide samples for analysis by the National Forensics Bureau on traces of alleged presence of poisonous substances in the former official’s body.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Thursday responded to a recent public statement by former President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who had claimed convicted individuals were “killed by torture” in detention in the country, by calling the comments a “lie” and a “baseless manipulative accusation” insulting to penitentiary staff.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said President Salome Zourabichvili would need to consider her voters’ 2018 rejection of the opposition United National Movement party in deciding whether she would pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday suspended the right of MPs to visit the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili in detention without permission.
The opposition United National Movement party on Tuesday said it was “regretful” that “some individuals” among its membership were using the topic of an upcoming rally for supporting the imprisoned former President Saakashvili to “cause a split”.
The leaders of the United National Movement party and other opposition parties, as well as Georgian citizens, are currently gathered at a solidarity rally for the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili at the Peace Bridge in Georgia's capital Tbilisi and other major cities across the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday told the media it was “disappointing” that the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s “domestic and foreign allies” tried to obstruct the execution of justice and evade his punishment.