Tbilisi clinic Medical Director says Polish professionals “approved” treatment offered to ex-Pres. Saakashvili

Zurab Chkhaidze, the Medical Director of Tbilisi’s Vivamedi clinic where the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili is receiving treatment, on Thursday said a visiting group of Polish medical professionals had “approved” the treatment offered by the staff of the venue to the former official. 

Speaking with the media on the backdrop of controversy caused by claims by Saakashvili’s family and legal team on inadequate provision of medical services, Chkhaidze hailed his team’s communication with the visiting Polish counterparts on Wednesday as “very collegial, constructive and positive”.

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He also contrasted the discussion to previous visits by both foreign and domestic medical professionals, during which he said the visiting counterparts had shown no interest in communication with the clinic staff.

I can say we are very satisfied by the meeting. We jointly discussed treatment tactics, medical checks and recommendations [made by the clinic’s personnel to Saakashvili]”, Chkhaidze said, adding the visiting group had made “same recommendations” to the former President that he said had been refused by the patient. 

He also said the former official had put on weight after accepting some of the recommendations by the clinic’s professionals, “unlike the previous cases”. 

We are happy he has put on weight. It would be more welcome if he follows the doctors’ recommendations even more, particularly in terms of the diet”, Chkhaidze said.

The Medical Director was also asked if Saakashvili’s gaining in weight could mean he would be moved back into prison detention, but said the development was “not a determinant” factor in the possibility.

Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish Prime Minister, on Wednesday tweeted the professionals from his country had launched a “comprehensive medical examination” of Saakashvili, adding “we do not leave our friends in need”. 

Saakashvili is currently serving a six-year-term for abuse of power while in office in two separate cases, while three other cases involving him are still pending. He was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 after eight years abroad, following his clandestine return to Georgia ahead of domestic municipal elections.