For Georgia opposition calls for ex-Pres. Saakashvili’s transfer from clinic to prison


Author
Front News Georgia
The For Georgia opposition party on Thursday urged the relocation of Mikheil Saakashvili, the third President of Georgia, from the Vivamedi civilian clinic in Tbilisi, where he has been undergoing treatment since May 2022, back to prison.
During a parliamentary briefing, MP Mikheil Daushvili, representing the party founded by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, emphasized the inappropriateness of allowing a foreign citizen, referring to Saakashvili, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, to interfere in the internal political affairs of the country.
Daushvili cited “systematic violations” of the Procedural Code of Criminal Law and called for an end to such infractions. He advocated for Saakashvili’s transfer to a penitentiary institution, suggesting that this move should take place at the very least after the new year.
Daushvili revealed, “We want to inform the public that a special operation is underway to save and reunify [Saakashvili’s] United National Movement. The organizer of this operation is the current government.”
He accused the authorities of allowing a foreign citizen, the defendant, to actively participate in national political processes, a move he asserted goes against the law.
Daushvili alleged that this campaign event was designed to both salvage the fragmented UNM for the 2024 elections and instill fear among Georgian citizens with Saakashvili and his party. He called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to halt what he described as a pre-election spectacle, refrain from exploiting the court for its PR goals, and not contribute to the reunification of the disunited UNM.
However, Opposition MP Roman Gotsiridze criticized Daushvili’s calls, deeming them “harmful” and viewing them as detrimental election propaganda. Gotsiridze expressed concern that transferring Saakashvili, who is reportedly facing health issues, to prison could incite a challenging and tense process. He labeled the move with the slogan “neither the Georgian Dream, nor the UNM.”
Responding to the proposal, Irakli Kadagishvili, a member of the parliamentary majority, suggested that some factions of the opposition were expected to distance themselves from the UNM and its leader. Kadagishvili interpreted the move as an attempt by opposition parties to cater to voters ahead of elections, anticipating an increase in statements condemning the UNM in the lead-up to the polls.
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