Georgian Justice Ministry offers Saakashvili’s transfer to Tbilisi Vivamedi multiprofile clinic

Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze says the ministry will offer imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili to receive treatment in the multiprofile Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi to “prevent” complications in his health as the third president “refuses to receive certain medication and food.” 

 

The offer on Tuesday comes on the heels of the demands of Saakashvili’s family and his United National Movement (UNM) party over the “ultimate necessity” of the former resident’s transportation abroad for treatment due to “very poor condition.” 

 

“Convict Mikheil Saakashvili has been prescribed medical treatment, but it should be stated that he selectively takes only a certain part of the medication. Thus he refuses full treatment at his own discretion. Also, he takes food by his own decision, only selectively and, naturally, he endangers his own health,” Bregadze said after the governmental meeting. 

 

“We, as a responsible government, always act in the best interests of life and health of any individual. Therefore, to prevent  possible complications, Mikheil Saakashvili will be offered to be taken to the Vivamedi Clinic, where he will be examined and, if necessary, given appropriate treatment,” Bregadze added. 

 

Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship and chaired the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council prior to his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1, 2021 , said he returned after eight years to help his UNM “change the Georgian Dream leadership via elections.” 

 

However, the current authorities said that Saakashvili planned a coup.The former president is currently serving his term for abuse of authority he was convicted in absentia back in 2018. He has also been charged with several other offenses. Doctors under the Georgian Public Defender’s medical council suggested last week  that Saakashvili had anorexia and protein deficiency, and that the current environment hampered his recovery.