Ruling party head responds to US State Department over Saakashvili: Gov’t ‘well aware’ of its responsibilities

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday responded to recent comments by the US Department of State over the heath of currently imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, pointing to the Georgian government’s responsibilities for the issue. 

In his remarks to the media, Kobakhidze stressed the Georgian authorities were ‘well-aware’ of their responsibilities, with “no need” to remind them of these. 

“I said that I would not comment on this topic [Mikhail Saakashvili] and I will keep this promise. As for the responsibility of the state,  the government  is very well aware of its responsibility, in contrast to the period before 2012 [before the Georgian Dream authorities took office]”, Kobakhidze said. 

He noted that unlike the rule of the United National Movement under Saakashvili, inmates’ rights had been “fully ensured” in the country over the past 10 years. 

The US Department of State told Voice of America on Monday that they were “closely monitoring” Saakashvili’s health and that the Georgian government was responsible to ensure his health and well-being.