Ex-Pres Saakashvili claims jailed opposition leader Zodelava transferred to hospital in serious condition

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili said on Friday that his ally, opposition leader Murtaz Zodelava had been transferred to Vivamedi Tbilisi Hospital in a serious condition, alleging that prison authorities had ignored warnings about his deteriorating health.

In a post on social media, Saakashvili claimed that Zodelava had suffered two strokes while being held in a prison cell adjacent to his own.

"It became clear that he suffered two strokes while in the cell next to mine," Saakashvili wrote.

He alleged that prison medical staff and some prison employees had repeatedly raised concerns about Zodelava's condition, but claimed their superiors in Tbilisi had ignored the warnings despite the risks to his life.

Saakashvili also referred to the detention of another opposition leader Paata Burchuladze, saying the cases demonstrated what he described as the authorities' willingness to pursue the "physical destruction" of political opponents.