Ex-Pres Saakashvili claims Georgian prisons hold ‘most highly educated inmates since 1937’

Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday said the country’s prisons hold “most highly educated inmates since 1937”, arguing that this is why prisoners are publicly raising concerns about conditions inside penitentiary facilities.

In a social media post Saakashvili said all existing prison buildings were constructed during his presidency, replacing what he described as “catastrophic Soviet-era prisons” and have not been renovated or modernised since.

“There was a time when politicians outside the system speculated using footage from prisons; now, other politicians are in prison themselves and report the real situation from inside”, Saakashvili wrote.

He said today's prisons host a world-renowned opera singer, internationally known politicians, writers, poets, business figures, future presidents, ministers and young scientists. He added that prominent doctors had also been among inmates.

“I thought about it and realised the only people we are missing are astronauts. Maybe someone should tell the ‘boss’ to kidnap one and put him next to us, because we are getting bored”, he added.

“On a more serious note, the number of inmates in Georgia today is twice as high as it was during my presidency”, Saakashvili noted.