American doctor, NGO head to be interviewed at trial hearing over ex-pres. Saakashvili’s release on medical grounds

The Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday will interview an American doctor Jame Cobb and the head of a domestic rehabilitation Empathy Centre Mariam Jishkariani during the trial hearing on granting the release or the postponement of the rest of his sentence to imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili. 

A health report by the Empathy Centre last year on Saakashvili’s condition had pointed to more than 20 health issues and called for the former officia’s transfer abroad for “proper treatment” to prevent potential coma or death. 

Shalva Khachapuridze, Saakashvili’s lawyer, on Monday said he would submit a new motion to the court to determine the time of questioning for medical experts.

“We will tell the court to determine the time of questioning of each expert. This will give us the opportunity to interview many witnesses in a faster manner”, the lawyer said, and noted the court needed to reveal its judgment in a timely fashion as Saakahsvili’s condition was worsening day by day.  

The lawyer stressed Saakashvili wished to attend the hearing via an online link, if his health allowed his engagement in the process. 

Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 after eight years in self-imposed political exile and is now serving his six-year-term for abuse of power while in office. 

The Georgian Dream authorities claim the former president is deliberately harming his health to escape justice.