EP needs urgent humanitarian solution on Saakashvili – MEP Viola von Cramon

MEP Viola von Cramon on Wednesday tweeted that the European Parliament needed an “urgent humanitarian solution” on imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, that would allow the country to “finally focus on other topics”. 

 

Responding to the EP resolution adopted by an “overwhelming majority”, calling on Saakashvili’s transfer abroad on health grounds, the MEP said “576 colleagues and I agree the health of Saakashvili, like other prisoners, is a responsibility of the government of Georgia”. 

 

Thirty-three MEPs voted against the resolution, while 26 others abstained.  

 

The ruling Georgian Dream party members have slammed the resolution as an “attempt to blackmail the country” ahead of the European Union’s decision whether to grant the country its membership candidate status. 

 

Tbilisi city court denied granting Saakashvili’s release or the postponement of the rest of his six-year-sentence for abuse of power on medical grounds earlier this month.