Parliament Speaker: disappointing that ex-Pres. Saakashvili’s “domestic, foreign allies” try to evade his punishment
Papuashvili added the postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds was “only within the competence” of doctors and the court and the “commentators and politicians” could not decide it. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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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.
Papuashvili responded to the former United States Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul’s article, published in an American daily newspaper Washington Post, in which McFaul said the American President Joe Biden and other leaders should call on the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to ensure Saakashvili’s release from prison on medical grounds.
I think people are confused about what is justice and what is politics, such statements serve only one purpose - to hinder the administration of justice”, Papuashvili noted, adding the postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds was “only within the competence” of doctors and the court and the “commentators and politicians” could not decide it.
The former Georgian President has been receiving treatment at the Vivamedi clinic, because of his “health problems”, the Parliament Speaker said, stressing it was “regrettable” that he was not following doctors’ advice and prescriptions.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021, after his clandestine return to Georgia, and is serving a six-year term for two separate abuse of power cases, with three other cases involving his term pending. He has been receiving treatment at the Vivamedi clinic since May 12.
His lawyers and family members have claimed the former president is in “urgent need” of treatment abroad, adding local professionals had been “unable” to make “accurate diagnosis and ensure relevant treatment” for months.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and his entourage “must come to terms with the reality” that the former official will “have to serve his sentence”, in comments on the ongoing controversies related to the former official’s health.
Irakli Zarkua, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday responded to an article by Michael McFaul, the former United States Ambassador to Russia, on the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili by saying mentioning the latter in connection to democratic and human rights concerns was “absurd”.
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 Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Wednesday posted footage on social media of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, which shows his condition in different periods at the Vivamedi civilian clinic.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said it was doubtful that President Salome Zourabichvili would pardon the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Saturday said a resolution adopted by the Polish Sejm on Georgia’s imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was an attempt to “force an open door”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Monday said the efforts of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and his team to return to politics in the country was a “forced move”, and alleged their “main goal” of “evading justice”.