Delay in ex-pres. Saakashvili’s trial raises question marks – US ambassador

US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Wednesday said the postponement of the trial hearing on the release of convicted former president Mikheil Saakashvili on medical grounds or the postponement of his sentence, “causes question marks”, noting the delay was “unexpected”. 

The trial hearing has been postponed from Wednesday to December 22, as doctors refused to allow Saakashvili’s presence in a court, while the special penitentiary service was unable to ensure his participation in the process online. 

“The excessive delay of this process causes concern and creates additional questions. The postponement of the trial in such a situation was unexpected. Especially when there is an urgent situation where the health and well-being of a person is at stake”, said the ambassador and noted that the Georgian Dream government “is responsible for Saakashvili’s health”. 

The trial hearing was initially scheduled on December 9, after Saakashvili’s lawyers addressed the court with the motion on December 1, following a health report by domestic rehabilitation Empathy center which said  the absence of “proper treatment” could lead to “coma and death”. 

The Georgian Dream authorities claim Saakashvili is “self-harming” to evade punishment for the offenses committed while in office.