I am tortured, poisoned, my heart must be buried in Kyiv If I die – ex-pres. Saakashvili

Imprisoned former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, on Wednesday addressed a trial hearing on granting his release on medical grounds via a video link, claiming he was being tortured and poisoned while in custody and stressed his heart “must be buried” in Kyiv if he died. 

“I have given all my knowledge to Georgia. Now I have given my health and the only thing I am asking for is to be given the opportunity to receive adequate treatment. If necessary, I will give my life. My condition has deteriorated sharply,” Saakashvili told the judge. 

The former official, who chaired the executive committee of the Ukrainian national reforms council before his arrest in Tbilisi in 2021, also addressed Ukainians. 

 

“I am being tortured and I am poisoned. I want to address you – I am proud that everyone admires the Ukrainian people, I am proud that the president is Zelenskyy, I am grateful for his office”, he said, adding “I am absolutely sure of our victory, but if I do not live to see victory, which is very close, my heart must be buried in Kyiv, it belongs to Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine, death to our enemy,” Saakashvili said.

Then he apologized and showed the judge what his physical condition is now, and the  Judge disconnected him,  later saying that the former official did not wish to speak more.