ECHR ruling on Saakashvili is final, “no questions asked” - Georgian Justice Minister after meeting with diplomatic corps

Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Thursday, after the meeting with the representatives of the diplomatic corps in the country, said “there were not any questions” concerning the European Court of Human Rights ruling, which had rejected the imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s request to be transferred to Poland for treatment.

The ECHR ruling, published on May 12, had neither accepted the request for transfer abroad nor instructed the Georgian authorities to move Saakashvili to another treatment facility within the country.

• ECHR has rejected Saakashvili’s request for transfer to Poland for treatment - Georgian Justice Minister

Following the meeting with five ambassadors and 27 deputy ambassadors to Georgia, hosted in the Justice Ministry, Bregadze noted the Georgian side did not need to make any explanations to the “friendly states” regarding the former official, as the Court had made its final decision based on evidence and legal norms and not by “political perceptions and impressions”.

Saakashvili, who has been undergoing treatment at the Vivamedi civilian clinic in Tbilisi since May 2022, will be transferred back to a penitentiary facility only in case of an “appropriate decision” by the doctors involved in his treatment, Bregadze said.

In their turn, the Hungarian Ambassador to Georgia, Anna Maria Shiko and Maria Theodorou, the Greek Ambassador made comments after the meeting, the Public Broadcaster said, with the Hungarian diplomat emphasising the meeting had answered “many questions” regarding Saakashvili’s case.

She noted the ambassadors had received “a guarantee” that Georgia “provides care of all prisoners”, including the former President, stressing that all prisoners should be treated fairly, “on the road to European Union membership, there must be rule of law [in Georgia], it must be fair and equal for everyone”.

The Greek Ambassador evaluated the meeting with the Justice Minister as “friendly and productive” and said the diplomatic corps received explanations regarding the ECHR ruling on Saakashvili.

Saakashvili, who has Ukrainian citizenship and held a public post in the country, was arrested on return to Georgia in October 2021 and is serving a six-year term for abuse of power in a case he had been convicted on. He has three other cases against him pending.