Degnan on Saakashvili: when human life at risk there should be no debates

US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that she is concerned by the health condition of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, after he reportedly fainted in prison yesterday on his 49th day of hunger strike, and stated that ‘when human life is at risk there should be no debate about taking every step possible to provide the care that’s needed.’ 

 

“We put great confidence in the Public Defender and her team, and the medical team that is operating under her auspices. Their assessment is that Saakashvili’s condition is critical and that he needs full care to respond to emergencies that are more and more likely to occur if he is not in an appropriate facility,” Degnan said earlier today. 

 

Degnan stated that she is also ‘very concerned’ about Droa opposition party leader Elene Khoshtaria’s health condition, who has been on hunger strike in solidarity with Saakashvili for 17 days. 

 

“I can assure you that the diplomatic community, certainly the United States, is doing everything that we can—much of it you don’t see, but we are working very hard trying to resolve this situation as quickly as possible to ensure that people’s health and well-being is taken care of,” Degnan stated.       

 

She also said that ‘attempts to undermine or threaten’ the Public Defender’s office are ‘simply unacceptable,’ referring to the recent criticism by the ruling party officials to Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria and accusing her of being biased to Saakasvili.