Ex-Pres. Saakashvili: gov’t destroyed my health, now they want to forbid me to think

Mikheil Saakashvili, the currently imprisoned former president of Georgia, on Thursday accused the Georgian Dream government of “destroying” his health and taking actions to also “forbid” him to think.

 

The social media post came following the government claims the May ruling by the European Counrt of Human Rights – which rejected the former official’s motion on his transfer abroad on health ground – had “put an end” to his “fake, anti-state campaign” and “unfounded allegations” on “torture and ill-treatement” while in custody. 

 

Prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said after the court ruling Saakashvili “decided he is well” and “announced engagement” in domestic politics last week. 

 

In his post, the former official claimed his condition was “problematic as ever”, and accused the government of not allowing the EU medical mission composed of polish professionals into the country over the past four months to check his health. 

 

“I have walking difficulties. Lost more than 50 percent  of my body weight and continue to lose it. Have deteriorating neurological conditions and seriously worsened eye vision. I also lost most of my hair, but that does not mean I can not express myself as the Georgian government wants me to shut up”, Saakashvili said. 

 

The third president of Georgia, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship and chaired the executive committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council, was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 on his clandestine return after eight years, ahead of domestic municipal elections. 

 

The government officials claim Saakashvili aimed at sparking tension in the country and a coup to retake office and later “drag the country” into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

 

Saakashvili is currently serving his six-year-term for abuse of power while in office in two separate cases, while three other cases involving him are still pending.