Judge expels Empathy centre chair from trial hearing on Saakashvili

Judge Giorgi Arevadze on Wednesday expelled Mariam Jishkariani, the head of the domestic rehabilitation Empathy centre, from a trial hearing in Tbilisi city court on granting the former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release on medical grounds or the postponement of the rest of his sentence. 

The health report by Empathy centre on Saakashvili, drafted with the engagement of domestic and foreign health professionals, had been used by the former official’s lawyers at the end of the last year to request his release on medical grounds. 

The report had indicated more than 20 health issues and potential coma or death, if Saakashvili would not be transported abroad for “proper treatment”. 

The court was testifying Galina Kalushina, the centre expert, when the judge expelled Jishkariani for messaging with the former and warned the expert not to use her phone while responding to questions.