Ukrainian presidential advisor: Saakashvili’s release a case of “moral”

Oleksiy Arestovych, the Ukrainian presidential adviser, on Wednesday called on the public in Georgia and abroad to join a rally today demanding the release of imprisoned former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili on medical grounds, claiming the issue was related to morals.  

“The point is that politics has become immoral for a long time. There are interests of certain groups that are being pursued at any cost. Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that may go beyond the borders of Ukraine and Russia, it is time to talk about it. I want to see the return of morality to politics, and it is slowly returning”, he said. 

The official stressed “this war for Mikhail’s life”, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, was a fight for the return of morality and values in politics, “and it doesn’t matter what the name of this person is, who is being tortured and killed in prison”. 

The United National Movement opposition party – the largest opposition group in the county funded by Saakashvili, had organized rallies in Tbilisi and seven other cities of Georgia, as well as at Georgian embassies abroad. 

Saakashvili and his entourage claim the third president is dying because of poor treatment in Georgia and also pointing to alleged poisoning, while the Government says Saakashvili is self-harming to escape justice. 

The former official was arrested in Tbilisi in October 2021 after eight years in self-imposed political exile. 

Now he is serving his sex-year-sentence for abuse of power while in office.