Georgia’s currently imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili is now remotely participating in a trial hearing on his release on medical grounds or the postponement of his sentence, from the Vivamedi civilian clinic, where he has been receiving treatment since May. 

The hearing has been postponed twice since December 9 due to the doctors’ refusal Saakashvili to participate in the process in-person and the failure of the penitentiary service to ensure the former official’s remote engagement in the trial. 

Lawyers filed a motion to Tbilisi city court on December 1, following a health report by a domestic rehabilitation Empathy centre, which had pointed to possible poisoning of Saakashvili and more than 20 health issues that could trigger coma or death. 

The Georgian Dream authorities say the former official is engaged in “self-harm”, refusing to follow doctors’ instructions to get released from prison. 

Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship, is currently serving his six-year-term for abuse of power while in office.