MEP Viola von Cramon on Thursday posted the photo of imprisoned former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili from today’s trial hearing on granting his release on medical grounds, saying “this is how he looks today”
“Last time I met Mikheil Saakashvili he was a healthy man. This is how he looks today after a bit over a year in a Georgian prison. The well-being of every prisoner including Saakashvili is a responsibility of the Government of Georgia”, the MEP tweeted.
Saakashvili participated in a trial hearing via an online link on Thursday. However, he was switched off after some time for his decision to speak in the Ukrainian language as a “citizen of the country”.
The previous trial hearings were postponed due to the failure of the penitentiary service to ensure his online engagement.
An American expert-psychiatrist has told the court the former official suffers from rapidly progressing dementia, stressing his condition was “complicated”.
Georgian Dream officials claim the third president, who was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021, is engaged in “self-harm” to achieve release from prison or the postponement of his six-year-sentence for abuse of power.
Nika Melia, the head of the United National Movement opposition party founded by Saakashvili and in office between 2004 and 2012, said if the court delays its verdict, even if the outcome is positive, the former official may die.
Last time I met Mikheil #Saakashvili he was a healthy man. This is how he looks today a bit over a year in a Georgian prison. The well-being of every prisoner including Saakashvili is a responsibility of the Government of #Georgia. pic.twitter.com/XY6fbhnfNy
