Ruling party dismisses opposition claims on leader Khoshtaria's health, calls ex-Pres Saakashvili's claims 'comical'

Parliamentary Majority Leader and chairman of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, Irakli Kirtskhalia, has rejected opposition allegations that imprisoned opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria is being denied adequate medical care, while also dismissing recent remarks by convicted former president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Kirtskhalia described as "completely absurd" opposition claims that Khoshtaria is not receiving proper medical attention in prison, insisting that the Georgian penitentiary system provides healthcare to all inmates.

"It is completely absurd to suggest that anyone in a penitentiary institution is not receiving attention today," he said, adding that the public does not believe what he characterized as false allegations from the opposition.

The ruling party leader argued that opposition warnings about the health of former president Saakashvili had repeatedly proven exaggerated and maintained that medical care is being provided not only to Khoshtaria but to all prisoners serving sentences in Georgia.

Kirtskhalia also responded to Saakashvili's recent statement that Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili would "end very badly" in relations with the United States.

"One never knows what Saakashvili dreams about in his prison cell. Today he threatens America, tomorrow with another country," Kirtskhalia said, describing the former president's remarks as belonging to the "comedy genre."

Separately, Kirtskhalia dismissed criticism from European Commissioner Marta Kos regarding Georgian legislation, defending laws adopted by the ruling party and arguing that they serve the country's security and national interests.