Saakashvili: health minister had to resign because of me

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili claims that the Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze ‘had to resign’ as the founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, did not forgive her the creation of an ‘unbiased medical council’ in his case. 

“Ivanishvili forgave her the complete failure in managing the pandemic.

However, he did not forgive her the creation of the council which did not say what he (Ivanishvili) wished to speak about my health,” Saakashvili said.

Tikaradze announced her resignation yesterday, noting that she will continue work in the political council of the Georgian Dream party. 

The medical council Saakashvili mentioned was created to monitor the former president’s health while on hunger strike and in the post-hunger strike period. 

Saakashvili suspended his 50-day hunger strike on November 20 after he was transferred in Gori military hospital to receive treatment on November 19.