Prosecutor’s Office doesn’t grant victim status to Saakashvili as the demand is ‘ungrounded’

The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has not granted a victim status to imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili as it was demanded by his lawyers for alleged mistreatment in prison and during a transfer from a prison to a prison hospital in the autumn of 2021. 

The Prosecutor’s Office said earlier today that the State Inspector’s Investigative Service informed Saakashvili’s lawyers twice in detail about the ongoing investigation and the procedural actions -on December 9 and 30, 2021.

The statement says that the criminal case in the proceedings of the State Inspector’s Service requires a complex and thorough investigation, and for this purpose, on November 29, 2021, the Prosecutor’s Office  issued an instruction. 

The Prosecutor’s Office says that various procedures and expertise have been scheduled to investigate the issue, and that the portion of the procedures have not been completed so far. 

“Thus, as various conclusions in the case are still absent the Prosecutor’s Office lacks levers to make a decision on the status,” said the statement. 

The Prosecutor’s Office said that Saakashvili’s lawyers will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the case materials.  

Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, 2021 after eight years in political exile. 

He was on hunger strike for 50 days and that is why he was transferred to a prison hospital first and then to Gori military hospital.  

Currently he is in Rustavi Prison No.12, serving his term for abuse of power.  

Saakashvikli says that he is a political prisoner.