Medical panel under ombudswoman: Saakashvili’s condition critical, needs transfer to civil clinic

A medical panel gathered by the initiative of Georgian public defender Nino Lomjaria has presented its conclusion and stated that the current condition of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili is ‘critical,’ and he needs an ‘immediate transfer’ to a milti-profile civil clinic due to a long hunger strike. 

The experts say that Gldani Prison No.18 hospital, where Saakashvili was transported last week on the 39th day of his hunger strike, is not equipped enough to ensure proper treatment of the former president. 

The panel confirmed that Saakashvili is really on hunger strike and  revealed Wernicke encephalopathy (n acute neurological condition) , persistent hypokalemia (urinary anomalies)- from 08.11.2021 ,anemia – thalassemia + high probability of gastrointestinal bleeding, highly stressful environment. 

The said that expected complications in the coming days include: coma with epileptic status, lethal arrhythmia caused by hypokalemia, rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemolysis – thalassemia + hypophosphatemia, pulmonary embolism (due to immobilization and dehydration), heart failure, in case if Saakashvili stops his 49-day hunger strike, a food recovery syndrome. 

The Georgian Dream officials say that Saakashvili is receiving all necessary medical services in Gldani prison hospital. 

They say that if Saakashvili is transferred to a civil clinic, his supporters may cause unrest there which may pose threats to Saakashvili’s life and health. 

Saakashvili was convicted in Georgia in absentia back in 2018 for abuse of power and was sentenced to six years in prison. 

He has also been charged with five other offences, including embezzlement, abuse of authority, illegal rally dispersal, illegal seizure of property and illegally crossing the border. 

The former president, who is now a citizen of Ukraine, claims that he returned after eight years in political exile to remove the Georgian Dream from power.