Public Defender’s Office: “positive dynamics” observed in imprisoned ex-Pres. Saakashvili’s health

The Georgian Public Defender’s Office on Monday said health professionals had observed “positive dynamics” in the condition of Mikheil Saakashvili, the imprisoned former President of Georgia.

The Ombudsman’s Office said the group of experts - including a neurologist, an anaesthesiologist and a reanimatologist - had visited the Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi, where Saakashvili is undergoing treatment, on January 25 to examine his condition.

The group of medical workers pointed to the patient’s gaining of weight as a “positive trend”, but added the former official still suffered from cognitive deterioration, anxiety and depression.

• Conclusion No. 12 of Group of Specialists/Experts Set up by Public Defender for Monitoring Management of Mikheil Saakashvili’s Medical Condition

The group added Saakashvili was “in need of a close medical supervision” and “psychological intervention”, after saying he “mostly lies down, feels weak and reluctantly answers questions”. 

Health professionals said the current positive dynamics were to be credited to supervision and treatment of “highly professional doctors in a multi-professional clinic” for more than a year and a half. 

However, all psychoneurological pathologies are still at the same [level]”, they added, adding Saakashvili’s condition “does not allow for solid positive forecasts” at the current stage. 

Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 on his clandestine return from Ukraine after eight years, has been receiving treatment at the clinic since May 2022. 

The European Court of Human Rights in May 2023 rejected his application to be granted transfer abroad on health grounds. The Court also rejected his transfer to another clinic inside the country.