Penitentiary Service denies concealing health records of former president Saakashvili
In its reaction to the accusation, the Special Penitentiary Service said examination results would be handed over to Saakashvili and his lawyers upon request. Photo:Special Penitentiary Service.
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The Special Penitentiary Service has denied keeping the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s health records secret, following his transfer to a civilian clinic for medical examinations on Sunday.
The state agency responded to accusations of not disclosing the diagnosis on Saakashvili’s condition at the Central University Clinic, after Saakasvili made the allegation on social media saying the Justice Ministry would “keep yesterday's diagnosis secret, as usual”.
In its reaction to the accusation, the Special Penitentiary Service said examination results would be handed over to Saakashvili and his lawyers upon request. The agency said Georgia’s personal data law required consent of inmates before their health information was processed.
The response added Saakashvili was provided with “all necessary medicines” and “qualified medical staff” in the penitentiary system.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 and charged with illegally crossing the state border in his clandestine return to the country before the municipal elections last year.
The former president had been found guilty of abuse of power in two cases in absentia in 2018 and faces additional charges including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement and illegal rally dispersal.
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze has accused a medical panel invited by public advocate Nino Lomjaria of coming to a ‘fake conclusion’ about the health of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, stating that this may cause legal trouble for Lomjaria.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia says that the health condition of former president Mikheil Saakashvili is ‘stable’ on the 47th day of his hunger strike. Deputy head of the Medical Department of the Special Penitentiary Service Giorgi Chidrashvili said earlier today that the former president is under the supervision of doctors around the clock and that all diagnostic and lab tests are being made to prevent any complications.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze says that former president Mikheil Saakashvili is receiving all necessary medical services in Gldani Prison No.18 hospital, and that the ministry has invited more doctors to monitor Saakashvili while he is on hunger strike and who will give daily updates about the former president’s health condition.
Overall six criminal charges are filed against recently arrested Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili who has been convicted to six years of imprisonment in two cases while four other criminal cases are still being heard in Tbilisi City Court.
The European Court of Human Rights has decided to strike the application of Georgia’s imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili regarding on his treatment by the country’s penitentiary system off its list of cases, Deputy Justice Minister Beka Dzamashvili said on Friday.
Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian President currently serving his prison sentence, accused the Justice Ministry of ‘deliberately falsifying’ the court decisions.
Saakashvili’s statement came in response to the Justice Ministry’s announcement that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had decided to strike his application regarding ill-treatment by the Georgian penitentiary system off its list of cases.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Wednesday rejected media reports on the possible poisoning or intoxication of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili in detention as “targeted" and "defamatory”.