Georgia's Penitentiary Service denies ex-Pres Saakashvili's claim that jailed opposition leader suffered strokes

Georgia's Special Penitentiary Service has denied former president Mikheil Saakashvili's claim that jailed opposition figure Murtaz Zodelava suffered two strokes in prison, saying medical examinations found no evidence of an acute pathological condition.

In a statement on Friday, the service said Zodelava had been transferred to Vivamedi Tbilisi Clinic after reporting health complaints, but stressed that the move was made to establish a diagnosis rather than in response to a stroke.

"Following medical examinations at the clinic, all forms of acute pathological processes were ruled out," the statement said.

The Penitentiary Service added that although Zodelava had requested to return to the penitentiary facility, doctors decided to keep him at the clinic for further observation.

It also called on the public to refrain from spreading what it described as false information.

Earlier on day, Saakashvili claimed on social media that Zodelava had suffered two strokes while being held in a prison cell adjacent to his own and accused prison authorities of ignoring warnings about his health.