Ukraine unable to ensure Saakashvili’s security if transferred – ruling party MP

Irakli Zarkua, a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said Friday that due to the ongoing hostilities, Ukraine would not be able to ensure security of the currently imprisoned former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who had been summoned for questioning in Ukraine over a case which involves him.

“War and trouble are happening there, who will take responsibility for his security?” asked Zarkua and added that if Saakashvili really felt bad, hisd transportation would not be recommended for him. 

“I am sorry, I do not understand why he should be handed over to Ukraine… If it is necessary, the relevant technologies are developed in such a way that he can be directly involved and interrogated, there is no problem. Especially if we say that he is weak and so on, let’s not disturb that person. He is in a clinic where he is being treated and undergoing rehabilitation. So, I think we should not bother him”, Zarkua said. 

Saakashvili’s lawyer, Shota Tutberidze, has stated that the Ukrainian court issued a ruling within the ongoing case on violation of the rights of Saakashvili, which refers to the transfer of the ex-president to Ukraine to testify in the said process.

Tutberidze explained that the Ukrainian lawyer of Saakashvili had submitted a relevant motion:

“We are talking about transfer. The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine will send this decision of the Boryspil court to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, which should discuss the implementation of this decision,” the lawyer says.

The third president of Georgia was arrested in Tbilisi last year after eight years in self-imposed political exile. 

He claimed he returned to help the opposition change the government via elections. However, the Georgian Dream authorities claimed that he wished for a coup. 

Saakashvili holds Ukrainian citizenship and held a public post there before being arrested in Tbilisi on several charges while in office, including abuse of authority.