Opposition calls rally as prison authorities weigh leader Khoshtaria's transfer to civilian clinic

Opposition politician Giga Lemonjava has called on supporters to gather outside Georgia's Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia as prison officials prepare to decide whether jailed opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria will be transferred to a civilian medical facility.

Speaking outside the Rustavi Women's Penitentiary Establishment on Monday, Lemonjava, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, said Khoshtaria's treating physician was due to examine her once more before a meeting of prison healthcare officials.

According to Lemonjava, the physician will then travel to the Penitentiary Service, where a final decision on Khoshtaria's possible transfer to a civilian clinic is expected to be made.

“Today they must make a final decision on this issue,” he said.

Lemonjava called on Khoshtaria's supporters, friends and political allies to assemble outside the Penitentiary Service headquarters at 2:00 p.m. while awaiting the outcome.

“We will gather at the Penitentiary Service at 2:00 p.m. and wait together for the final decision regarding Elene's health,” he said.

The opposition politician argued that Khoshtaria should be transferred to a civilian hospital, claiming she is experiencing severe pain that cannot be adequately addressed in prison.

“She must be transferred to a clinic. She is suffering unbearable pain. Remaining in prison in such a condition amounts to torture, and the only appropriate solution is to transfer her to a civilian medical facility,” Lemonjava said.