Special Penitentiary Service explains why Saakashvili’s communication with lawyers was restricted

The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service has responded to the accusations of arrested former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and his lawyers that their communication has been restricted due to a barrier in a room used for meetings.

The Penitentiary Service says that a glass barrier in the room where Saakashvili meets with lawyers has been replaced as the former president and his lawyers ‘were permanently violating coronavirus guidelines.’

“Saakashvili and his lawyers were permanently violating the established regulations in the prison, in particular,  a direct contact from the top of the glass barrier, by climbing the table, took place, while Saakashvili refused to wear a face mask.” 

The agency says that Saakashvili has never had a problem handing over documents to his lawyers, and with the help of the prison administration, he can still use this right without any problem.

The Special Penitentiary Service states that as of today, 104 visits have been made with Saakashvili, while 57 of the 104 meetings were by his lawyers. Saakashvili, who returned to Georgia after eight years in political exile, was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, one day before Georgia’s municipal elections. 

He claims he returned to help his United National Movement opposition party to regain office. Saakashvili was convicted in absentia in Georgia back in 2018 for abuse of authority and was sentenced to six years in prison. 

He has also been charged with four other offences which are still in courts. 

Saakashvili claims he is a ‘political prisoner.’Saakashvili is a citizen of Ukraine and currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.