Doctors admit ex-pres. Saakashvili’s health “deteriorated”, pointing to “self-harm”

Doctors in the Vivamedi civilian clinic in Tbilisi, where former president Mikheil Saakashvili has been undergoing treatment since May 2022, held a media briefing on Wednesday, where they said the former official’s health was really deteriorated, with his weight reduced to 67 kg, pointing to his “disobedience” to the medical personnel. 

 

Zurab Chkhaidze, the Clinical Director of the clinic, claimed his facility had been doing “its utmost” to ensure the patient’s recovery, with the latter having “different goals”. 

 

Sopo Mebuke, the clinic’s endocrinologist, stressed Saakashvili was only taking 300 to 400 calories a day, when an intake of at least 1,700 calories was necessary. 

 

She also claimed health checks had revealed “ no organic reasons” for the poor appetite, pointing to Saakashvili’s “non-adjustment” to imprisonment. 

 

Tbilisi city court earlier this month denied Saakashvili release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on health grounds, dismissing the claims of the former official’s entourage that he was in “urgent need of proper treatment abroad”. 

 

Saakashvili, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, was arrested in Georgia in October 2021 and is serving a six-year term for abuse of power while in office, while three other cases are pending.