Saakashvili ‘self-harming’ to escape justice – parliament speaker

Imprisoned former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is engaged in “self-harm”, “deliberately deteriorating” his health to escape justice, parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Thursday, amid a trial hearing in Tbilisi city court on granting the former official’s release on medical grounds or the postponement of the rest of his six-year-sentence for abuse of power. 

“Saakashvili is trying to weaken himself to evade punishment”, Papuashvili said in response to the claims of the former official’s entourage that the convict is in “urgent need” of “proper treatment” abroad. 

The official stressed Saakashvili was refusing to follow doctors’ instructions in the Vivamedi civilian clinic, where he has been receiving treatment since May. 

“The government is interested in Saakashvili’s well-being, while the latter is engaged in self-harm”, said the speaker. 

The third president, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021, after eight years in self-imposed political exile.