Alleged smuggling of Saakashvili’s biological sample by doctor “unintentional” - Polish MFA

The Polish foreign office on Wednesday said the alleged smuggling of a biological sample of the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili by a Polish medical professional last week had been “unintentional” and “devoid of intentions inconsistent” with the agreement between the Georgian authorities and the group of visiting Polish doctors to facilitate the latter’s inspection of the former official’s health.

The first official comment by the body came following a statement by Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service, which on Friday released footage allegedly showing one of the five Polish professionals in the group attempting to smuggle the former official’s sample through his shoe after their visit to the Tbilisi clinic where Saakashvili has been receiving treatment since May 2022, despite having had an official permission to take it. 

The Ministry welcomed the permission issued to the group to examine Saakashvili’s health condition on July 12, and stressed “full involvement” of Georgian doctors in his treatment, before adding the “unintentional incident” had been “clarified on the spot and later” during the meeting of the country’s acting Ambassador with the Georgian Foreign Minister. 

However, it also lamented the release of the footage and “emotional statements” by Georgian officials following the incident, which it said “contradicted” the principles of “good cooperation” between the sides. 

The body added neither the incident nor its disclosure by the Georgian authorities would affect the group’s assessment of Saakashvili’s state of health, efforts of Georgian doctors assigned for his treatment, and the process of analysing the results of the examinations.

The Polish side invariably counts on the continuation of cooperation with Georgian partners and declares its readiness for possible further actions aimed at helping our Georgian partners and the former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili”, the MFA said. 

Rati Bregadze, the Georgian Justice Minister, on Sunday said the Polish professional had “admitted” the attempted smuggling of the former official’s biological sample out of the facility, adding his action had contradicted both “ethical and legal norms”. 

The official on Wednesday said the Polish professionals would not be readmitted to the clinic to visit the former official until the Polish side made official explanations over the incident.