Ukrainian public advocate Denisova welcomes ECHR grants Saakashvili’s request for interim measures

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, has welcomed the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the arrested former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who is a citizen of Ukraine and current head of Executive Council of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.  

Denisova says that ECHR granted Saakashvili’s lawyers’ request for interim measures and called on the former president to end his 42-day hunger strike, ‘acknowledging his refusal to eat, take medication, vitamins and medications.’  

“The court ordered the Georgian government to inform by November 24 about Mikhеil’s health, the treatment he was receiving, and that the authorities were ensuring his safety in general and providing him with proper medical care.

Failure to comply with these measures will be considered a violation of Article 34 of the European Convention on Human Rights (obstruction of the effective exercise of the right to individual redress),” said Denisova. 

Denisova reiterated her demand that Saakashvili should be transferred to a civil clinic, instead of a prison hospital.  

Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile, stating that he returned to remove the Georgian Dream government from power.  

He was convicted in Georgia back in 2018 for abuse of power in absentia and was sentenced to six years in prison.  

Saakashvili also faces five charges related to embezzlement, illegal takeover of property and others.