US Department of State ‘closely following’ Saakashvili’s treatment

The US Department of State says that they are closely following the treatment of former President Mikheil Saakashvili since his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1. 

 

They commended the oversight work of the Georgian Public Defender in establishing an independent medical team to evaluate Saakashvili’s health and to review the state of medical facilities at the prison hospital.  

 

“We urge the Government of Georgia to treat Saakashvili fairly and with dignity, as well as to heed the Public Defender’s recommendations about appropriate treatment. We also strongly urge the Government of Georgia to ensure Mr. Saakashvili is able to attend all court hearings for his pending criminal cases, in line with international law. Mr. Saakashvili has a right to a fair trial, which includes the opportunity to attend court hearings in person should he request to do so,” said the Department of State. 
Saakashvili, who is now a citizen of Ukraine, has been on hunger strike for 50 days. 

 

He claims he is a political prisoner. 

 

Saakashvili says he is ready to stop his hunger strike if he is brought to a civil clinic. 

 

However, the government says that he and his Unite National Movement party have plans to cause unrest at a civil clinic. 

 

They also say that Gldani Prison No.18 hospital provides all types of medical services for Saakashvili. 

 

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

 

He says he returned after eight years in political exile to remove the Georgian Dream from power.