Former Georgian President Saakashvili needs urgent hospitalization after a month of hunger strike, his lawyers say

The lawyers of the former President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili announced the need for his urgent hospitalization in a civilian clinic in connection with the deteriorating health condition, undermined by the ongoing hunger strike. transfers Interfax.

The defenders got acquainted with the results of Saakashvili’s medical examination, which were discussed at the council of doctors. “All these results are negative,” said Bek Basilai’s lawyer. – Against this background, the statements of the penitentiary service that Saakashvili’s state of health is normal are outright lies. This is not our interpretation, on the eve two doctors who are not members of the council were summoned to Saakashvili. “

Basilaya also commented on the authorities’ statement that the penitentiary service has no right to disclose the personal data of Saakashvili, whose state of health on the 35th day of the hunger strike is not so critical.

“Mikhail Saakashvili is really starving and the result is that he has lost 20 kilograms,” Basilaya said. “Any insinuations of the authorities regarding Saakashvili’s condition are immoral in relation to a starving person.”

On November 3, his personal doctor Nikoloz Kipshidze met with the arrested Saakashvili at the Rustavi penitentiary. He confirmed that the ex-president’s condition is deteriorating. According to the doctor, Saakashvili “complains of a rapid heartbeat” and “has become much weaker than before,” transfers “Georgia Online”.

Lyudmila Denisova, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine told in an interview with the “Gordon” newspaper that already on October 27, during Saakashvili’s meeting with her, “his state of health was critically grave.” The ex-president “got tired quickly” and “lost concentration.” “He himself said that he was getting weaker every day, that it was getting harder and harder for him to get up and think,” added Denisova.

Regarding the possible transfer to the prison hospital, Saakashvili told her: “They will kill me there. I am afraid for my safety. “

According to the ombudsman, Saakashvili receives medication support in the form of 30 tablets a day and drinks up to 7 liters of water a day. He is also given two drips daily.

“For me, Saakashvili is a citizen of Ukraine,” Denisova said. – My mandate applies to all citizens of Ukraine, wherever they are. Therefore, I will defend his rights. ” She demanded that the Georgian authorities ensure his rights to decent conditions of detention and medical care.

In early October, it became known that Mikhail Saakashvili secretly returned to Georgia shortly before the municipal elections. This is his first visit to the country in eight years. On the evening of October 1, he was arrested and sent to prison. A criminal case was initiated against him on illegal border crossing.

Immediately after the arrest, Saakashvili went on a hunger strike. On October 10, the opposition leader’s doctor reported that his health had deteriorated. Due to the deterioration of his condition on October 22, the ex-president needed a blood transfusion.

In Georgia, five criminal cases have been opened against Saakashvili, including abuse of authority and embezzlement. In two of them, he was previously found guilty in absentia. The ex-president called the sentences against himself fabricated, in particular – by order of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Georgian prosecutor’s office noted that Saakashvili faces at least six years in prison.